title: Beta-hemolytic streptococci in advanced periodontitis.
abstract: The distribution of serotypes of beta-hemolytic streptococci was examined in 718 periodontitis patients. Subgingival samples were obtained with paper points from the 3 deepest lesions in each patient, transported in VMGA III, plated onto brucella agar with 5% sheep blood and incubated anaerobically for 7 days. Serotyping and speciation were performed with Meritec-Strep Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus Grouping Set and the Analytab 20S Streptococcus System. Beta-hemolytic streptococci were recovered from 33.7% of patients and averaged 10.5% of the total viable counts in culture-positive subjects. The organisms occurred with higher prevalence in patients 35 years or older than in younger patients. The predominant serotypes were F (62.9%), non-typeable (18.1%), B (6.9%), C (6.9%) and G (5.2%). 100% of beta-hemolytic streptococci were sensitive to penicillin, but less than 5% were sensitive to tetracycline, metronidazole or ciprofloxacin. Beta-hemolytic streptococci may contribute to inflammatory periodontal disease and may interfere with healing after therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slots
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D013752:Tetracycline; D010400:Penicillin G