title: Microflora cultivable from minocycline strips placed in persisting periodontal pockets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The microflora that develops on minocycline strips, used as an adjunct in non-surgical periodontal therapy was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minocycline (1.4 mg in polycaprolactone vehicle) and control strips were applied into all residual pockets (PD > or = 5mm, > or =2 pockets/subject) of patients with chronic periodontitis 1 month after a course of non-surgical periodontal therapy. Strips were inserted and retained for 3 days, changed to new strips for 3 more days and then removed. Strips were recovered from 14 (eight test, six control) of the 34 participants at day 0 (strip inserted, left for 30 s, removed), days 3 and 6, for (i) anaerobic culture, (ii) coliforms culture, using MacConkey agar, (iii) yeast culture, using Sabouraud's dextrose agar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean anaerobic cfu/strip (x10(5); control/test) were 2/6, 24/2, 11/2 at days 0, 3 and 6, respectively (P > 0.05). The corresponding mean proportion of Gram-negative rods and fusiforms were 27%/21%, 27%/15% and 55%/8%. The proportions of Gram-negative rods on test strips by day 6 were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). A significantly increased prevalence of Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 was found on spent test strips (control versus test; 0% versus 38%, Fisher exact test, P = 0.01). Coliform prevalence at days 0, 3 and 6 on control/test strips were 0/13%, 50%/38% and 50%/13%. Yeasts were occasionally isolated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that the minocycline strips but not the control strip supported a microbial colonisation compatible with periodontal health by day 6.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. ewkleung@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: W Keung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Lijian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Joyce Y Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Esmonde F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Corbet
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006092:Gram-Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D034361:Streptococcus mitis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D008911:Minocycline