title: Metronidazole plus amoxycillin in the treatment of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans associated periodontitis.
abstract: The potential use of an adjunctive therapy of metronidazole plus amoxycillin for the subgingival elimination of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in periodontitis patients was investigated. 22 patients participated in this study, 11 with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) and 11 with rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). 14 patients had received periodontal treatment in the past. All patients were subgingivally infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans. After mechanical subgingival debridement in combination with the antibiotic treatment, elimination of A. actinomycetemcomitans was achieved in all patients but one. With this one exception, clinical improvements were observed in all patients, resulting in reduced pocket probing depths as well as in a significant reduction in bleeding on probing. Re-examination of 16 patients after 9-11 months revealed that A. actinomycetemcomitans was still undetectable and further clinical improvement was observed. It was concluded that the combination of metronidazole plus amoxycillin is a valuable adjunct to mechanical therapy in A. actinomycetemcomitans associated periodontal infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology, Academic Center for Dentistry, Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Winkelhoff
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Goené
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Winkel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Graaff
mesh_terms: D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin