Tetracycline fibres used to control bacterial infection during guided tissue regeneration (GTR).
OBJECTIVE
The colonization of suspected periodontal pathogens during the healing of periodontal defects treated by guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with e-PTFE membranes and tetracycline fibers was investigated.


METHODS
Fifteen patients, each with one pair of angular periodontal bone defects of comparable size and morphology were recruited for the study. In a matched-pair study design, the test defects were treated with e-PTFE membranes in combination with tetracycline fibers, while control defects were treated with e-PTFE membranes alone. Microbiological specimens were taken from control as well as from test sites preoperatively (T0), intraoperatively (T1), two weeks after surgery (T2) and from membranes at time of removal (T3). Cultural methods were used to identify the following species: Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and Actinobacillus actinomicetemcomitans (Aa).


RESULTS
At baseline and T1, none of the suspected periodontal pathogens were detected at test or control sites. Levels of P. intermedia and F. nucleatum, as mean percentages of total culturable microflora, were detected at levels significantly higher in control sites than test sites at times T2 and T3.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study suggest that e-PTFE membranes are frequently colonized by periodontal pathogens, and that bacterial colonization of healing sites after GTR procedures can be kept under control with a controlled delivery system releasing tetracycline.
Chair of Perio Dontology, University, Pisa.
L
L
Sbordone
A
A
Barone
M
M
Di Genio
L
L
Ramaglia
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D013752:Tetracycline