Pseudomonas clearance from the oropharyngeal cavity and healing of mouth ulcers using a selenium-enriched Lactobacillus brevis Lse mouthwash: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Background and Objectives: A selenium (Se) enriched Lactobacillus brevis was applied as mouthwash to relieve mouth ulcers and regulate oral pathogens. The persistence of four frequent oral pathogens (Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterobacter) and the quantity of mouth lesions were to be measured after exposure to the above probiotic. Susceptibility of the pathogens was also examined.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial, 60 ICU patients were allocated into three groups equally (to receive normal saline, chlorhexidine, and Se-probiotic) every 6 hours for 1 week. The utilized Lactobacil- lus brevis was previously separated from a traditional dairy product and its enrichment was accomplished through streaking on MRS plates supplemented with sodium selenite.

Results: Klebsiella and Pseudomonas were the most frequent initial pathogens, from which Pseudomonas were totally omitted from the probiotic group. The Se-probiotic existed in the mouth cavity of the test group six hours after the last dose. In the probiotic group, the number of oral lesions were significantly reduced.

Conclusion: Clearance of Pseudomonas from mouth cavity and significant decrease in the quantity of mouth ulcers are con- siderable achievements. Hence, the applied Se-supplemented mouthwash exhibited promising capability to be considered as a potential oral hygiene formulation.