technetium-tc-99m-sulfur-colloid and Xerostomia

Physical clearance is an important oral defense mechanism against gram-negative rods. We describe a simple technique that uses commercially available technetium-99m sulfur colloid to measure oral clearance. Technetium-99m sulfur colloid was sprayed into the mouth, and clearance was measured as the percent decrease in radiolabel counts over 2 hours using a radioisotope camera. Results using this technique compared favorably with clearance data using Tc-99m radiolabeled Escherichia coli. Atropine significantly decreased oral clearance rates of the colloid. Decreased clearance may be an important risk factor in the development of gram-negative rod colonization in hospitalized patients.

Topics: Atropine; Escherichia coli Infections; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Isotope Labeling; Kinetics; Mouth; Radionuclide Imaging; Risk; Salivation; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; Xerostomia