Oral Hygiene Habits and Toothbrush Contamination with Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus in Dental Students: Epidemiological and Molecular Insights

Roberto Andrés García Cesén,1 Paola Patricia Orellana Bravo,2 Carlos Fernando Andrade Tacuri,3 Verónica Ivanova Verdugo Tinitana,4 Diana Patricia Alvarez Alvarez,5 Karla Toledo Andrade1 1Department of Dentistry, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador; 2Department of Dentistry, Biotechnology Laboratory, Center for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer (CIITT), Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador; 3Department of Dentistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Center for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer (CIITT), Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador; 4Department of Dentistry (Radiology), Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador; 5Department of Dentistry (Endodontics), Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorCorrespondence: Roberto Andrés García Cesén, Email andy-gc19@hotmail.com Paola Patricia Orellana Bravo, Email porellana@ucacue.edu.ecIntroduction: The contamination of toothbrushes with pathogenic microorganisms poses a risk to both oral and systemic health. This study analyzed the presence of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus in toothbrushes used by dentistry students and its relationship with their oral hygiene habits.Materials and Methods: Microbiological culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus in toothbrush samples. Resistance (blaZ, mecA, vanA) and virulence genes (tst, lukS/lukF-PV, hla, hlb, hld, sea, seb, sed, sec) were screened in the S. aureus isolates.Results: Higher contamination was descriptively observed among toothbrushes stored in bathrooms and those used for ≥ 1 month. A total of 73 toothbrushes were analyzed; E. faecalis was detected in 9/73 (12.3%) and S. aureus in 4/73 (5.5%). Among the 4 S. aureus isolates, blaZ was detected in 4/4 (100%), mecA in 1/4 (25%), and vanA in 0/4 (0%). These findings reinforce the need to improve toothbrush hygiene and storage practices to reduce the risk of pathogenic transmission. The presence of a MRSA strain calls for the implementation of effective prevention and disinfection strategies, especially in dental and community settings.Keywords: toothbrushing, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA