title: Effects of subgingival irrigation on A. actinomycetemcomitans.
abstract: The effects of repeated subgingival irrigation on Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was examined. 24 periodontal pockets harboring A. actinomycetemcomitans in 3 juvenile and 4 adult periodontitis patients were studied. The protocol included bi-weekly subgingival irrigation with hydrogen peroxide of the periodontal sites until the micro-organism was no longer detected by selective culture, or for 6 months. A. actinomycetemcomitans was gradually suppressed to below detection following the irrigation regime and could no longer be detected in 46% of the sites at completion of the irrigation protocol. The sites were microbiologically re-examined 5 months after cessation of the irrigation regime. A. actinomycetemcomitans re-occurred in only 2 of the sites from which it had originally been suppressed below detection. The results indicate: (1) that the irrigation regime tested has some potential to suppress A. actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal pockets; (2) that the effect of the irrigation protocol generally lasted for 5 months; (3) that the reduction rate of A. actinomycetemcomitans to below detectable levels seems related to the initial number of cultivable bacteria from the periodontal pocket.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Wikesjö
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Christersson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Genco
mesh_terms: D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide