Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans em pacientes com síndrome de down: influência da condição periodontal e higiene bucal

Patients with Down syndrome have varying degrees of mental retardation, physical and motor, and apparently are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in saliva and subgingival biofilms and above of children and adolescents with Down syndrome and analyze the influence of diet, socioeconomic and cultural factors and periodontal condition. After assessing the socio-economic and behavioral, were collected clinical specimens, which were transported to the laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology FOA-UNESP for detection of microorganisms by molecular method and periodontal conditions were evaluated according to the Periodontal Screening Index and Recording. The control group consisted of individuals without the syndrome. The results were analyzed by chi-square test for proportion analysis of variables with three or more categories, or the Mann-Whitney test. The data analysis of this study showed that the occurrence of A. actinomycetemcomitans ranged from 0.0% to 25.0%, both in the group of patients with Down syndrome, as for the control group and this was not affected by socioeconomic characteristics of the target population, either by oral hygiene standards

Fatores envolvidos no comportamento em higiene bucal e hábitos alimentares de crianças: revisão de literatura

The family is primarily responsible for shaping behavior in oral hygiene and nutrition of children, and cultural and psychosocial factors can influence this process. Thus, we carried out this study with the aim of presenting evidence from the literature on the subject. We reviewed the databases Bireme, Pubmed and Medline without restriction of year of publication. Used as descriptors "education," "care," "behavior," "oral health" and "food habits". We emphasize the responsibility of the family practices, values and beliefs of oral health and nutrition as well as the importance of shared care between family and professionals.

Higienización de las manos: el cotidiano del profesional de la salud en una unidad de internación pediátrica

Objective. To describe behaviors related to hand cleaning in health professionals who work in the pediatric inpatient unit of a university hospital. Methodology. Descriptive study, in which the studied population was the sanitary staff who worked in a pediatric inpatient unit of a university hospital, there were a total of 43 people. Information was collected through an observation process and a survey applied on hand washing techniques, at the beginning of the study and a month later of the first one. Results. In just 7% of the observations, participants washed their hands before developing the procedure; one out of two followed the steps described in the technique. The most frequent failure in hand washing was presented in the step of rubbing the right hand palm over the left had dorsum, crossing the fingers and vice versa (18%). Conclusion. Participants of the study didn’t have the habit to wash their hands according to the recommended technique. Data suggest the necessity to promote educational actions to change staff behaviors and attitudes towards the steps and techniques of hand washing before and after performing any procedure.

Bacteria on the hands of school-age children at a Pediatric Hospitalization Unit

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from the hands of school-age children at a hospitalization unit. Methodology. In 2009, strains were cultured from the hands of 90 school-age children at the pediatric hospitalization unit of Hospital Estadual Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil). After culture of the samples, the isolated bacteria were identified. Results. In 98% of the samples taken from the children, bacteria were isolated. Coagulase-negative Staphilococcus was isolated in 64% of the samples, followed by Staphilococcus aureus (5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1%). Conclusion. In most of the samples from the children’s hands, bacteria were isolated. Therefore, educative actions about hygiene habits in- and outside the hospital environment should be reinforced, aimed at children and their companions.