title: Susceptibility of Streptococcus mutans to antimicrobial agents.
abstract: Fifty strains of Streptococcus mutans, including defined strains and clinical isolates, were tested for susceptibility to 20 different antimicrobial agents. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by a liquid microtiter procedure. Antibiotics that were most effective in concentrations below 0.1 mug/ml included penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, cephalothin, and methicillin. Antibiotics effective in concentrations between 0.1 mug and 10 mug/ml included rifampin, lincomycin, thiostrepton, spiromycin, vancomycin, streptolydigan, novobiocin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, and gentamicin. Antibiotics effective at higher concentrations ranging from 10 mug/ml to 400 mug/ml included the aminoglycosides kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, and kasugamycin. Although most antibiotics exhibited inhibitory effects in a narrow range of concentrations, antibiotics such as tetracycline, thiostrepton, and spiromycin had a 1,000-fold range from the lowest to highest concentrations required for growth inhibition.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media