Will triclosan in toothpaste select for resistant oral streptococci?

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 306 - 309
• Main Authors: Sullivan, Å., Wretlind, B., Nord, C.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2003; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents, Local - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Bacteria, Aerobic - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oral Hygiene; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Saliva - microbiology; Streptococcus; Streptococcus - classification; Streptococcus - drug effects; Streptococcus - growth & development; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Streptococcus mutans - growth & development; Streptococcus sanguis - drug effects; Streptococcus sanguis - growth & development; Toothpastes; Triclosan - administration & dosage; Triclosan - pharmacology; Human; Disinfection; Microflora; Biological activity; Streptococcaceae; Oral cavity; Streptococcus; Chlorine Organic compounds; Antiseptic; Phenols; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Triclosan
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0691.2003.00486.x

The aims of the study were to determine the in vitro sensitivity of triclosan against viridans streptococci and the impact of triclosan on the normal oral microflora. Nine subjects used a triclosan-containing toothpaste for 2 weeks. Saliva samples were collected on days 0 and 14 and were analyzed quantitatively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of triclosan and of several antimicrobial agents were determined for the streptococci isolated on days 0 and 14. No major changes occurred in the normal oral microflora during the study period. There were no differences in susceptibility between streptococcal strains collected at days 0 and 14 against triclosan or antimicrobial agents. Short-term use of triclosan has no major impact on normal oral microflora or on streptococcal susceptibility of antimicrobial agents. The effects of long-term use should be evaluated.