Phenotypic Analysis and Antibiogram of Oral Infections-Causing Bacteria Isolated from Dental Patients

Abstract

Oral infections are commonly observed in individuals and frequently result in enduring inflammatory states that impact the teeth, such as caries, the gingival tissues surrounding the teeth, including gingivitis and endodontic lesions, as well as the structures that provide support to the teeth, such as periodontitis. A total of 100 clinical samples were collected from patients with various oral infections. The individuals in the study encompassed a wide range of ages, ranged from 9 to 70 years, over the timeframe between October 2023 and December 2023. Fifty pathogenic bacterial strains were obtained from specimens of clinical origin, with the genus Streptococcus accounting for 27 of these isolates, representing 54% of the total, the highest proportion observed among all specie. The specimens were identified through the examination of cultural and microscopic features, in addition to being confirmed using the Vitek2 system for species-level diagnosis. The multidrug-resistant isolates exhibited resistance to various antibiotics including Erythromycin (100%) classified under the Macrolide group, Cefotaxime (100%), Cefepime (100%), Ceftriaxone (100%), and Penicillin (96.29%) which falls under the βeta-Lactam category. Additionally, resistance was also observed against Clindamycin (92.59%) which is categorized as a Lincosamide antibiotic. In the susceptibility testing of antibiotics, Augmentin demonstrated the highest level of activity among the tested molecules, thereby affirming its overall efficacy against oral streptococci. Additionally, Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole and Ampicillin exhibited favorable activity, while Vancomycin also demonstrated effectiveness against oral streptococci.