title: Increased resistance to penicillin of oral viridans streptococci in dental students.
abstract: Salivary samples were taken annually in October from 48 dental students as they progressed from pre-clinical studies to final year. The MICs of penicillin for the viridans streptococci were determined. Over the three years these organisms became progressively more resistant but not to a level of clinical significance. The findings were confirmed by a cross-sectional study of 57 pre-clinical and 37 final year students. The increase in resistance might have been related to age, but a further study of 20 postgraduate chemistry students of the same age as the final year dental students showed that the former had a population of streptococci similar to that found in the pre-clinical students. Whether the increase in resistance is a result of the dental students working in the clinic or having penicillin more frequently prescribed for them personally is a matter for speculation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013335:Students, Dental
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins