Predominant bacteria isolated from 21 cases of odontogenic infection were identified and examined for β-lactanlase, DNase, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, lipase, lecithinase, collagenase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and plasmin activities.Pus was aspirated, immediately inserted into RTF under a stream of anaerobic gas, sealed tightly with a butyl gum stopper and transferred to the laboratory. The sample was serially diluted and smeared on blood agar plates in duplicate. One plate was incubated anaerobically for 7 days and another aerobically for 4-7 days.Bacteria were isolated in all cases and the standard number of isolates was 9.2×10
8 CFU/m
l.Anaerobic bacteria predominated in 20 of the 21 cases yielding positive culture.In anaerobic bacteria, gram negative rods were predominant, especially species of
Bacteroides (45.6%) were isolated from 20 of the 21 cases, followed by species of
Peptostreptococcus (23.8%) and
Streptococcus (9.0%).
B.intermedius (18.8%),
Ps.productus (7.6%),
Ps.micros (5.3%),
S.mitior (4.4%) and
B.gingivalis (4.3%) were identified as major constituents.
All cases contained various bacteria producing different enzymes at high percentages. Enzymes most often detected included β-lactamase (100%), DNase (87.5%), hyalurcnidase and chondroitin sulfatase (81.3%), lipase (81.0%), lecithinase (71.4%) and collagenase (68.8%).
B.iltermedius was predominant as β-lactamase, DNase, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, lipase, and lecithinase producer.While,
B.gingivalis was predominant as collagenase, trypsin chymotrypsin and plasmin producer.
These results indicate that hydrolyticenzyme-active
B.interrrtedius and
B.gingitalis may exert important influences upon the exacerbation of odontogenic infection.
View full abstract