Selection and counting of aerobic gram-negative bacilli in saliva by the spiral system.
A four-month pilot study involving 100 volunteers, 100 hospitalised patients not on antibiotics and 100 patients on antibiotics was performed using a non labor-intensive system involving inoculator, laser colony counter and 14-cm petri dishes containing MacConkey medium to determine the number of aerobic gram-negative bacilli present in saliva. All colonies greater than or equal to 0.75 mm in diameter were found to be aerobic gram-negative bacteria. This was also valid for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but only after incubation for 48 h. This study showed that the novel and practical technique used can be applied to a large number of saliva specimens, and antibiotics have limited impact on the buccal microflora (intensive care unit excluded).
Yourassowsky
E
E
Department of Microbiology, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
Van der Linden
M P
MP
Pardaens
Y
Y
Crokaert
F
F
Glupczynski
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*