Abstract
This study aimed to determine the actual number of bacteria on the toothbrushes used by non-intubated emergency patients. Non-intubated the study included 27 non-intubated emergency patients. According to the patients’ status of performing activities of daily living, they were divided into the gel group, in which nurses provided oral care using oral gel, and the control group, in which patients independently performed oral care using mouthwash. Bacterial and adenosine triphosphate（ATP） levels were assessed before oral care, after brushing, after washing toothbrush, and after drying toothbrush. An interaction was found for ATP levels（F=10.3, p=0.002）．After brushing, the ATP value was significantly higher in the control group（111683±89679RLU）than in the gel group（60786±48960RLU）（p=0.003）．After cleaning the toothbrush, the ATP level was significantly lower in the control group（297±582RLU）than in the gel group（924±1098RLU）（p=0.004）．After drying the toothbrush, the ATP levels were 42±48 and 48±54RLU in the control and gel groups, respectively, indicating that both groups remained clean.
