title: [Streptococci mutans: a semi-quantitative method to assess the risk to oral infection in preschool Chilean children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salivary infection due to Streptococci mutans is considered the main microbiological risk factor for the initiation of dental caries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a semi-quantitative method to assess Streptococci mutans salivary infection and compare it with the existing quantitative method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva samples were obtained from 650 preschool children aged 2 to 6 years old using a TYCSB liquid medium for counting Streptococci mutans. Results were compared with quantitative cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 99.3% linear correlation coefficient between both methods. The correlation coefficients with dental caries prevalence were 97% for the semi quantitative method and 90% for the quantitative method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The semi-quantitative method to assess oral infection with Streptococci mutans, is accurate enough to be used in population studies and oral infection prevention programs in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Odontología y Cirugía Máxilo Facial, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. alinossi@terra.cl
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linossier
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zillmann
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arriagada
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villegas
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003470:Culture Media; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media