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Periodontal disease as reservoir for multi‐resistant and hydrolytic enterobacterial species
Author(s) -
Gonçalves M.O.,
CoutinhoFilho W.P.,
Pimenta F.P.,
Pereira G.A.,
Pereira J.A.A.,
MattosGuaraldi A.L.,
Hirata R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02111.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , periodontal disease , bacteria , biology , medicine , dentistry , genetics
Aims: This investigation aimed to isolate enteric rods from subgingival sites of patients presenting chronic periodontitis lesions, and to assess antimicrobial resistance and expression of hydrolytic enzymes. Methods and Results: Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 20% patients, and assayed for antimicrobial susceptibility and hydrolytic enzymes with specificity to different substrates. Isolates comprised seven Enterobacter cloacae (43·75%), five Serratia marcescens (31·25%), one Klebsiella pneumoniae (6·25%), one Enterobacter aerogenes (6·25%), one Pantoea agglomerans (6·25%), and one Citrobacter freundii (6·25%). Gelatinase activity was observed for 75% strains; caseinase and elastase was produced by six and two strains, respectively. DNase, lecithinase and lipase were expressed by S. marcescens . Most of strains were resistant to ampicillin (93·75%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (81·25%). The majority of strains were susceptible to cephalosporins and aztreonam. Enterobacteria remained susceptible to imipenem, streptomycin and fluoroquinolones. Resistance to gentamicin, amikacin, sulfamethoxazole/thrimethoprim, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol were also observed. Eight strains presented multiple drug resistance. Conclusions: Subgingival sites from periodontal diseases contain multi‐resistant and hydrolytic enzyme‐producing enterobacteria that may contribute to overall tissue destruction and spreading. Significance and Impact of the Study: Enterobacteria isolated from patients generally considered as healthy individuals poses periodontal diseases as reservoir for systemic infections particularly in immunocompromised and hospitalized hosts.