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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms
Published on: December 1, 2014
Multisite Evaluation of Toothbrushes and Microbial Growth in the Hospital Setting
Patti DeJuilio1, Jan Powers, Lisa M Soltis
1Author Affiliations: Clinical Director (Ms DeJuilio), Respiratory Care Services, Sleep Center, Neurodiagnostics, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Illinois; Director of Nursing Research and Professional Practice (Dr Powers), Parkview Health System, Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nursing Consultant (Ms Soltis), Fresenius Medical Care, Cary, North Carolina; Healthcare Consultant (Dr Brooks), Aiken, South Carolina.
Design:
This observational, descriptive study was conducted to determine the prevalence of microbial growth on toothbrushes found in hospital patient rooms.
Methods:
Toothbrush sampling was conducted in 136 acute care hospitals and medical centers from November 2018 through February 2022. Inclusion criteria for the units and patient rooms sampled were as follows: general adult medical-surgical units or critical care units; rooms occupied by adults 18 years or older who were capable of (1) mobilizing to the bathroom; (2) using a standard manual, bristled toothbrush; and (3) room did not have signage indicating isolation procedures.
Results:
A total of 5340 patient rooms were surveyed. Of the rooms included, 46% (2455) of patients did not have a toothbrush available or had not used a toothbrush (still in package and/or toothpaste not opened). Of the used toothbrushes collected (n = 1817): 48% (872/1817) had at least 1 organism; 14% (251/1817) of the toothbrushes were positive for 3 or more organisms.
Conclusions:
These results identify the lack of availability of toothbrushes for patients and support the need for hospitals to incorporate a rigorous, consistent, and comprehensive oral care program to address the evident risk of microbe exposure in the oral cavity.
