Assessment of periodontal and opportunistic flora in patients with peri-implantitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the presence of periodontal and opportunistic organisms in patients with peri-implantitis.


METHODS
Thirty-three partially edentulous subjects (22 women, 11 men), aged 32-90 years, who had one or more implants with peri-implantitis were included. Peri-implantitis was defined as: (i) the presence of bleeding on probing and/or suppuration and (ii) radiographic images showed marginal bone loss >1.8 mm after 1 year in function. Criteria for inclusion were: (i) partially edentulous patients having at least one implant diagnosed with peri-implantitis; (ii) no antibiotic therapy for 6 months prior to clinical examination. Following this definition, a total of 48 implants were diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Subgingival bacterial samples were obtained with sterile paper points from infected implants and selected teeth of each individual. Periodontopathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola) were detected by multiplex PCR targeting 16S rDNA. Samples were placed in reduced transport medium and cultured for opportunistic pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, enteric bacteria, Pseudomonas and yeasts).


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients yielded positive results for P. gingivalis, 25 for T. forsythia, eight for P. intermedia and 13 for T. denticola. None of the patients yielded a positive result for A. actinomycetemcomitans. Non-periodontal species were found in five patients (15% of total). P. aeruginosa was found in four (12%) patients, and C. albicans (3%) and S. aureus in one patient (3%) each. In two cases of peri-implantitis, none of the periodontal or opportunistic microorganisms studied were detected in either implant or tooth samples. When results of the periodontopathic bacteria from the implant and tooth samples of the same patient were compared, 18 patients (54%) showed the same results for both samples and 15 (45%) patients different results.


CONCLUSIONS
The implant surface may be colonized with pathogens different from periodontal bacteria. Opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans may be associated with implant failure.
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Matteo
M
Albertini
Microbiology Unit, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain.
Lorena
L
López-Cerero
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Manuel G
MG
O'Sullivan
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Carlos F
CF
Chereguini
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Seville, Spain.
Sofia
S
Ballesta
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Vicente
V
Ríos
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Mariano
M
Herrero-Climent
Department of Periodontology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Pedro
P
Bullón
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057873:Peri-Implantitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
culture; multiplex PCR; peri-implant flora; peri-implantitis; periodontally-compromised patients; periodontitis