[Isolation of periodontal bacteria from blood samples and atheromas in patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis].
BACKGROUND
Periodontitis is a common oral disease produced by bacterial species that reside in the subgingival plaque. These microorganisms have been associated to atherosclerosis and it is suggested that periodontitis is a cardiovascular risk factor.


OBJECTIVE
To isolate periodontal bacteria from blood and atheroma samples, from patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis.


METHODS
Twelve patients with periodontitis and a clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis and 12 patients with periodontitis but without atherosclerosis were studied. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and after scaling and root planing. The samples were incubated in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. One week after scaling, atheromatous plaques were obtained during endarterectomy in the 12 patients with atherosclerosis. These were homogenized and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Microorganisms were identified by means ofPCR.


RESULTS
Five patients with and two without atherosclerosis, had bacteremia after scaling and root planing. Bacterial species isolated from blood samples were the same found in periodontic pockets. Four atheromatous plaques of patients with bacteremia yielded positive cultures. The isolated bacteria were the same found in blood samples and periodontal pockets.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacteremia occurred in seven of 24 patients after scaling and root planing. In four patients, the same species found in periodontic pockets and blood cultures were detected in atherosclerotic plaques obtained one week after the dental procedure.
Padilla E
Carlos
C
Laboratorio de Investigación Microbiológica, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile. cpadilla@utalca.cl
Lobos G
Olga
O
Jure O
Gema
G
Matus F
Sergio
S
Descouvieres C
Claudia
C
Hasbún A
Sandra
S
Maragaño L
Patricio
P
Núñez F
Loreto
L
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D012534:Dental Scaling; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016745:Root Planing; D013997:Time Factors