title: Analysis of positive cultures from endodontically treated teeth: a retrospective study.
abstract: A study of 12,150 endodontically treated teeth from 11,797 patients in a private patient setup revealed an incidence of 10.2% positive cultures obtained just before obturation of the root canal. Streptococcal predominance was reflected by a presence of nearly 60% in the pure culture and nearly 98% in the mixed cultures. No significant changes in microbial predominance or bacterial sensitivities were detected over the 7-year period of study. Ampicillin, cephalothin, erythromycin, and penicillin were the most effective antibiotics against the viridans streptococci, the most prevalent organism in the infected teeth.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Dental Branch, Dental Science Institute, Houston.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dreizen
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies