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Beta‐lactamase producing bacteria in the human oral cavity
Author(s) -
Valdés Maria Villagran,
Lobbins Phyllis M.,
Slots Jørgen
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1982.tb00143.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , bacteroides , penicillin , microgram , antibiotics , bacteria , benzylpenicillin , oral cavity , biology , haemophilus , medicine , dentistry , genetics , biochemistry , in vitro
Twenty‐six individuals who had no history of long‐term antibiotic therapy were examined for the prevalence of β‐lactamase producing bacteria in the oral cavity. Samples from a total of 159 normal and diseased periodontal sites, 44 cheek mucosae, 22 tongue dorsa and 22 salivas were studied. Penicillin resistant organisms were recovered from Trypticase soy blood agar plates containing 1 μg/ml or 2 μg/ml Benzylpenicillin. Beta‐lactamase formation by these isolates was determined using a micro‐iodometric assay. Low levels of penicillin resistant organisms were found in all samples. Approximately 10% of the samples yielded β‐lactamase producing strains. Except for a few Veillonella parvula strains, all β‐lactamase forming isolates were members of the Bacteriodes melaninogenicus subspecies melaninogenicus ‐ Bacteroides oralis group of organisms. These species can produce severe infections and, therefore, the present findings may be important in the clinical management of oral and nonoral infections.