[The disinfection of the oral mucosa]

For evaluation of antiseptics intended for use on mucous membranes various effects, as bactericidal and fungicidal but also bacteriostatic and fungistatic effects as well as other mechanisms, have to be considered. The application of antiseptics on the oral mucous membrane is indicated to prevent wound infections, bacteremia following surgical intervention, infection caused by injuries as for example prosthetic ulcers as well as it is indicated for prophylaxis and therapy of infections like colds and for prevention of exogenic dissemination of bacteria. The substances used essentially are PVP-iodine-solutions, cation-active compounds, organic mercury- and silver-compounds and hydrogen peroxide-solutions. It has to be taken into account, however, that the toxicological properties of these substances vary. To this day there exists no generally accepted test model for the evaluation of these mucous membrane antiseptics. Therefore a test-solution on the basis of chlorhexidine digluconate was examined with the help of a rinse- and a swab-method, respectively. The total bacterial counts and the number of alpha-haemolytic streptococci was determined. The rinse-method resulted in reduction factors of log 1.0 after 5 to 120 min and the swab-method--applied at the buccal mucous membranes--in reduction factors of about log 1.5 after 5 min and log 1.0 to 1.2 after 120 min. At the gingival margin of the front teeth reduction factors rose from log 1.55 after 5 min to log 1.85 after 120 min. Possibly this rise was due to an after-effect of the tested antiseptic in this region. For examination of antiseptics a combination of both test methods is recommended.