Drug Sensitivity Pattern of Bacteria from Dental Extraction: A Microbiological Study

Introduction: Teeth are hard structures in the mouth and pharynx of vertebrates, used for eating, defense, and specialized purposes. Bacterial infections often cause purulent inflammations in the head and neck, due to diverse oral microbiota and dental lesions. This study underscores the need for antibacterial mouth rinses and systemic antibiotics, while noting that misuse of antibiotics has led to resistant bacteria, reducing some antibiotics' efficacy.

Materials:

Equipment: Weighing balance, Petri dishes, Autoclave, Wire loop, Bunsen burner, Incubator, Beakers, Conical flask, Measuring cylinders, Pipettes, Test tubes, Glass slides.

Specimen Collection: Swabs from 10 areas of extracted teeth were collected and transported to Benue State University, Makurdi, within 2-3 hours.

Antibiotics: Gentamycin, Ofloxacin, Erythromycin, Vancomycin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin.

Reagents: Kovac's reagent, normal saline, tetramethyl-p-phenylenedamine, bromothymol blue, hydrogen peroxide.

Sterilization: Glassware was autoclaved at 121 °C for 15 minutes.

Methods:

Media Preparation: Nutrient Agar, MacConkey Agar, and Peptone Water were prepared, sterilized, and incubated to check sterility.

Inoculation: Swabs were used to inoculate media, incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours.

Purification: Isolates were sub-cultured, gram-stained, and preserved for biochemical tests.

Identification: Based on colony appearance, microscopic examination, and biochemical tests (catalase, citrate, oxidase, indole, coagulase, gram staining).

Antibiotic Susceptibility: Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test antibiotics, with results interpreted using NCCLS criteria.

Results:

Isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp., and Streptococcus spp. were identified from 10 patients.

Antibiotic Susceptibility: Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, and Gentamycin were highly effective, while resistance to Vancomycin and Amoxicillin was noted.

Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp., and Streptococcus spp. were the primary bacteria in dental caries. Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, and Gentamycin were effective, while Vancomycin and Amoxicillin resistance is concerning. Proper antibiotic use and routine susceptibility testing are essential for managing dental infections.