Abstract
Purpose: Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the interactions between oral conditions and a number of prevalent systemic diseases The purpose of this study was to assess the existence of oral infectious pathogens potentially causing respiratory disease, endocarditis and opportunistic infectious disease in the dependent elderly, with specific attention to plaque present on denture and pharyngeal mucosal surfaces. The additional purpose was to investigate the relationship between the colonies on dentures and on pharyngeal mucosa.
Materials and methods: Both the denture and the pharyngeal bacterial flora of 20 dependent elderly were examined to identify microorganisms by the culture method.
Results: A variety of pathogens potetially causing respiratory, endocardiac and opportunistic infections colonized the oral cavities both on the denture and pharyngeal mucosa of dependent elderly. The ratio of colonies on dentures and on the pharyngeal mucosa was 70.6%.
Discussion: The results of the present study revealed that bacteria that commonly cause respiratory, endocardiac and opportunistic infection colonized on the dentures as well as on the pharyngeal mucosa of dependent elderly, suggesting that denture plaque may function as a reservoir of these organisms to facilitate colonization on the oropharynx.
