Molecular detection of Enterococcus species in root canals of therapy-resistant endodontic infections.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to identify Enterococcus spp in nonhealing endodontic cases using PCR amplification and molecular sequencing, and to determine if the prevalence of enterococci is increased in diabetic patients.


METHODS
Specimens from 40 cases undergoing retreatment were incubated in prereduced thioglycollate broth at 37 degrees C. Extracted DNA had PCR amplification using primers that target the tuf gene of 14 Enterococcus spp. PCR products were directly sequenced and identified phylogenetically.


RESULTS
Three cases were eliminated because the patients were on antibiotics or the tooth did not have a periradicular radiolucency. The remaining 37 specimens included 6 from diabetic patients. Eight specimens were positive for Enterococcus spp. Of these, 6 (19%) were from nondiabetic and 2 (33%) from diabetic patients (odds ratio = 2.1; chi squared, P = .45). Phylogenetically, all sequences from positive specimens matched E faecalis V583 (AE016947). Conclusion E faecalis was the only enterococcal species detected, with an overall prevalence of 22%.
Fouad
Ashraf F
AF
Department of Endodontology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. aff001@dental.umaryland.edu
Zerella
Joseph
J
Barry
Jody
J
Spångberg
Larz S
LS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / Q000032:analysis; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019233:Retreatment; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu