Introduction: This study assessed the effect of a high-intensity laser on Candida albicans Colony Count. Methods: This in vitro, experimental study was conducted on standard-strain C. albicans (ATCC18 804). Seventy-two samples with two different concentrations of C. albicans (104 cells/mL and 106 cells/mL) were randomly assigned to three groups of control, laser and nystatin. Each group included 12 samples from each concentration. In the nystatin group, 10 cc of nystatin suspension was added to the samples and mixed for 30-60 seconds. In the laser group, the Ga-Al-Ar diode laser with a 940-nm wavelength and 2-W power was irradiated to the samples with 0. 4 mm tip diameter in non-contact mode (1-mm distance) at a speed of 1 mm/s. The suspensions in the three groups were cultured on the Sabouraud dextrose agar culture medium and incubated at 37°, C for 24 hours. The number of C. albicans colonies was then Counted and reported. The three groups were compared by ANOVA and Tukey’, s test (alpha = 0. 05). Results: In both concentrations, the mean Colony Count in the nystatin group was significantly lower than that in the control (P < 0. 05) and laser (P < 0. 05) groups. The mean Colony Count in the laser group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: The high-intensity laser with a 940-nm wavelength and 2-W power in non-contact mode can significantly decrease the C. albicans Colony Count in vitro, but its effect is lower than that of nystatin.

Background and Aim: Cigarette smoking may affect saliva, oral commensal bacteria and fungi, mainly Candida that causes oral candidiasis. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of Candida Colony Count in smokers and non smokers based on clinical and preclinical findings. Materials and Methods: This case control study recruited 72 subjects, 36 smokers and 36 non-smokers who were selected after a primary clinical examination and completion of a questionnaire. The saliva was collected by spitting in sterile test-tubes after tooth brushing. Samples were transferred to a lab for culture and Colony Count. The colonies were Counted after 48 hours and results were analyzed by using T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean number of colonies in smokers was 140 and in nonsmokers were 67.25. This finding shows that the mean number of colonies in smokers is significantly higher than non-smokers (P=0.01). Also, there was a significant relationship between the number of daily cigarette smoked and the number of colonies (P=0.039, r=0.346). Another finding of this study showed that the number of colonies increased with age among smoker's group (P=0.039, r=0.346). There was no significant relationship between the number of colonies and age in nonsmokers (P=0.822, r=0.039). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we can conclude that, there is a direct relationship between cigarette smoking and increased growth of Candida in the mouth of smokers. It was also demonstrated that, the higher the number of cigarette smoked, the higher was the number of Candida in the mouth.

Listeria is a voluntary intracellular gram positive bacterium. Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen bacterium that redound acute Listeriosis in human and animals. Listeria monocytogenes is the most widespread bacteria causing meningitis. Listeria monocytogenes transmission is by unclean food, cheese, raw vegetables, salad and fish. The total Colony Count was used in this study as one of the microbial quality control methods. In total 260 fresh fish including 160 rainbow trout (cold water fish) and 100 common carp (warm water fish), were collected from fish markets in Kermanshah city. All the samples were tested for presence of Listeria monocytogenes using the modified Canadian version of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Listeria isolation method and total Colony Count. The statistical analysis of data was done by descriptive statistics. The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in the retail market was 15% in rainbow trout and 18% in common carp. The total Colony Count was more than 107 (cfu/gr) in 35% of rainbow trout and 48% of common carp. Based on the results, the hygienic procedures in fish marketing and consumption, such as evisceration of the fish and sufficient cooking are recommendable.

Background and Objective: Nanosilver particles are one of functional nanotechnology filed. These nanoparticles have antibacterial and antifungal characteritic. Combination therapy is one of new and specific method for therapy of diseases in medicine and pharmacology. Some plants are useful in growth inhibition of Aspergilus Niger. This study was done to evaluate the synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver on Colony Count of Aspergilus Niger.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study PAN were cultured in PDA medium. Five experimental and one control group were designed for the comparison of synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver, nanosilver 50ppm, nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100%, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100% mixed with nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract mixed with 50ppm, and double distilled water were given to group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and control group respectively. Morphological, diameter, and Colony numbers in various culture media were compared subsequently. The repeated number of Aspergilus Niger were 24, and they were chosen randomly. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15 and ANOVA test.Results: The Aspergilus niger Colony were reduced 8 days following treatment from 200 Colony in control group to 90, 75, 55 and 43 in nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, respectivley (P<0.05). The Colony Count 24 day following treatment were reduced from 200 Colony in control group to 42, 14 and 2 in eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract, respectivley (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that nanosilver with 50 ppm concentration mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract have synergic effect on reducing the Aspergilus niger growth rate.

Statement of Problem: Candida colonies make up a part of natural oral flora and are considered as predisposing factors for opportunistic infections. Since hemodialysis leads to body Immune suppression and make patients susceptible to opportunistic infections, it is useful to investigate the relationship between hemodialysis and such infections.Purpose: The aim of the present research was to study the relationship between oral candidal Colony Count and duration of hemodialysis and also to investigate the probable necessity for prophylaxis against oral candidiasis. Factors such as oral temperature, age, sex, denture, smoking, drugs, candidal microscopic view and clinical signs of oral infections, were also studied in relation to candidal colonies.Material and Methods: The smear of posterior part of tongue and oral fluids from 114 hemodialysis patients in Khorshid hospital, Isfahan University of medical Sciences were cultured. The number of oral candidal colonies and their microscopic view were studied in relation to the duration of hemodialysis and other factors.To analyze the data, Pearson and Spearman statistical tests were used.Results: No statistical significant relationship was observed between oral candidal Colony Count and the duration of hemodialysis.Conclusion: Due to the abundant predisposing factors for oral candidal infection, the probability of oral candidiasis cannot be predicted based on a single factor, namely duration of hemodialysis. As a result, according to this study, the prophylactic prescription of antifungal drugs are not suggested in hemodialysis patients. However, the results of the present study should not be over generalized and more studies are required.

This study clarifies the important role of nanofibers produced from polyacrylonitrile after reinforcement with iron nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3), to expand the applications of these fibers and to combine their ability to remove Nickel (II) from aqueous solutions with their ability to remove pollutants such as total suspended solids, total nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and cyanide as well as killing the bacteria in wastewater. The results of the absorption of Nickel (II) after treatment of the aqueous solution were obtained by an atomic absorption spectrometer type (AAs-7000) and a spectrometer type (Hach DR2800) after treating samples of wastewater obtained pollutant absorption results. The adsorption kinetic parameters results for Nickle (II) proved that the rates of increase in the maximum absorption capacity were 43.27 to 133.5 and from 74.63 to 178.571 mg/g when increasing the initial concentration (10-50 mg/L) for first and second order models. The pH, contact time, electrical conductivity, and initial concentration are good indicators of adsorption efficiency of Nickel (II), the high removal efficiency was 23.96 % at low initial concentration. Also, an increase the reduction rate and increased in TN: TP ratio were significant to increase the reduction rate of the total bacteria up 90 % at 8 hours.

Background and Aim: Nosocomial infections are common with known complications and high mortality and morbidity rate. There are several efficient and quick-acting antiseptic alcohol solutions such as Sterillium that require no scrubbing. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of betadin and Sterillium hand rubs for hand disinfection in a before-after trial according to prEN12054 prEN 1500. Material and Methods: We compared Betadin and Sterillium hand rubbing for hand disinfection in a before-after study. The study was done with 72 healthy ICU staff, whose hand microbial flora were measured before and after 30 seconds Hands washing with Betadin and Sterillium. Sampling was achieved according to the stratified randomization. Samples cultured on BA and EMB media and the frequency of microorganisms and the efficacy of two agents were determined. Then we compared results of Betadin and Sterillium by using Chi square and Fisher,s Exact and McNemar tests. Results: The most frequent pathogens were staph epidermidis (32), aerobacter aerogenosa (4), staph saprofiticus (3), pseudomona (1), klebsiella (1), acintobacter (1), and E.coli (1). The percentage of organism reduction following the usage of antibacterial agents was 94% for betadin and 87% for Sterillium (P=0.8). This reduction was significant statistically. We did not find significant difference about sex, ward, shift and job before and after washing with regard to Betadin, but in Sterillum we found significant difference(P=0.04) only after rubbing. The rate of negative culture about Betadin was more than Sterillium but was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Since skin is a routine source of infections transmission, and with respect to the satisfactory results, we advise the usage of this agent for ICU staff for hand disinfection.

Introduction: In most cases after periodontal surgery, the surgical area is covered with surgical packs. Recent studies suggest that use of periodontal packs after periodontal flap surgery is not necessary and some patients may be irritated by them. The aim of this study was to determine microbiological contamination of a periodontal pack (Coe-pak) by determining microbial Colony Counts of surgical sutures after modified Widman flap surgery.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, thirty-two patients needing periodontal surgeries at least in two quadrants of jaws were selected. In one quadrant, after surgery the surgical area was covered with periodontal pack randomly and the other quadrant was left without any dressing. After a week the sutures were removed and microbiological Colony Counts were determined. Finally microbial Colony Counts in the two groups were compared between the two groups by paired sample test using SPSS software (a=0.05).Results: The mean Colony Counts with and without periodontal pack were 10187±2900 and 9812±3042, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p value=0.602).Conclusion: The results of this research showed that sutures have microbial contamination with or without use of periodontal packs and these materials have no effect on microbial contamination.