Abstract
This study aimed to determine the presence of Prevotella strains and genes associated with resistance to lactamics in different oral niches from patients with/without primary endodontic infections. Saliva (S) and supragingival biofilm (SB) were collected from three patient groups: Group I - no endodontic infection (n = 15); Group II - acute endodontic infection (n = 12); and Group III - chronic endodontic infection (n = 15). Root canal (RC) samples were collected from Groups II and III. The presence of P. intermedia, P nigrescens, P. tannerae and cfxA/cfxA2 gene was assessed by PCR. The cfxA/cfxA2 gene was not detected in all environments within the same patient. The cfxA/cfxA2 gene was present in 23.81% of S samples, 28.57% of SB samples, and 7.41% of RC samples. Prevotella species were detected in 53.97%, 47.62% and 34.56% of the S, SB, and RC samples, respectively. P. intermedia had a high frequency in saliva samples from Group 3. Saliva samples from Group 1 had higher detection rates of P. nigrescens than did Groups 2 and 3. Patients without endodontic disease had high frequencies of P. nigrescens in the SB samples. The presence or absence of spontaneous symptoms was not related to the detection rates for resistance genes in the RC samples. Saliva, supragingival biofilm and root canals can harbor resistant bacteria. The presence of symptomatology did not increase the presence of the cfxA/cfxA2 gene in the supragingival biofilm and inside root canals.
Highlights
In endodontics, antimicrobial agents are used as a complementary measure for the control of acute infections
The cfxA/cfxA2 gene was cloned from a strain of Prevotella intermedia that had been isolated from the oral cavity and exhibited 98% similarity to the sequence originally
The present study assessed the prevalence of P. intermedia, P. nigrescens and P. tannerae in saliva, supragingival biofilm and root canals samples from patients with acute and chronic primary infections
Summary
Antimicrobial agents are used as a complementary measure for the control of acute infections. Among these agents, beta-lactam drugs are safer, but certain classes have specific adverse effects.[1] The over- and misuse of antibiotics can promote the selection of resistant pathogens and allow their emergence and dissemination.[2] The most efficient mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is enzyme production.[3] The isolation of beta-lactamase-producing strains has rapidly increased due to intra- and inter-species genetic transmission.[4] The production of beta-lactamase enzymes is encoded by the chromosomal genes cflIA and cfxA/cfxA2. The cfxA/cfxA2 gene was cloned from a strain of Prevotella intermedia that had been isolated from the oral cavity and exhibited 98% similarity to the sequence originally
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