Prevalence of micro-organisms producing hydrolytic enzymes and viscous materials in subperiosteal abscesses

Abstract

Using clinical strains isolated from subperiosteal abscesses, we examined the production of hydrolytic enzymes such as β-lactamase, DNase, hyaluronidase, chondrotin sulfatase, lipase, lecithinase, collagenase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and viscous materials. Anaerobes predominated in those isolates. The proportions of β-lactamase, DNase, trypsin, and lecithinase producers were 18.4, 12.7, 6.0 and 5.1%, respectively. Other hydrolytic enzyme-active bacteria were found in less than 5% of all isolates. Black-pigmented Prevotella, especially P. intermedia, were the predominant β-lactamase, DNase, and lecithinase producers. We found that hydrolytic enzymes produced by various Prevotella may exert an important influence on the exacerbation of the periapical pathosis.