Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013. Antimicrobial Susceptibility to b-lactams and Metronidazole of Microorganisms Isolated from Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis Susceptibilidad Antimicrobiana a b-lactámicos y Metronidazol de Microorganismos Aislados de Periodontitis Crónica y Agresiva Elerson Gaetti-Jardim Júnior* & Christiane Marie Schweitzer** GAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C. M. Antimicrobial susceptibility to b-lactams and metronidazole of microorganisms isolated from chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbial susceptibility to ß-lactams and metronidazole,
and evaluate the production of ß-lactamases by microorganisms isolated from patients with chronic or aggressive periodontitis. The samples were obtained from 50 patients with periodontitis and microorganisms were isolated onto selective andnonselective culture media, identified by biochemical methods and tested for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents (amoxicillin,amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefoxitin, imipenem, metronidazole, penicillin G). The isolates were resistant to at least 1 mg/ml ofany drug tested were evaluated to verify the production of ß-lactamases by the method of double layer (or biological) andchromogenic cephalosporin using nitrocefin. The results evidenced resistance to amoxicillin and penicillin G, while thesusceptibility to association amoxicillin/clavulanate, imipenem and cefoxitin was widely disseminated among the organisms. Resistance to these drugs showed a clear correlation with the production of ß-lactamase in the majority of microbial groups. KEYWORDS: periodontitis, antimicrobials, b-lactams, bacteria, metronidazole. INTRODUCTION
Periodontal diseases represent serious health
positive and Gram-negative bacteria (López et al.,
problems and affect all ethnic groups, regardless
gender and socio-economic conditions of the
population. They result from the loss of equilibrium
Antimicrobials and antibiotics used during
between the immune response and virulence factors
treatment of patients unable to maintain oral hygiene,
of the resident microbiota. The control of the oral biofilm
mentally or physically handicapped, suffering from
is a prerequisite to the health maintenance in the
dental and/or surgical trauma, and with refractory,
periodontium (Eick et al., 2011). In general,
aggressive or advanced periodontitis have been
antimicrobial drugs are not indicated as monotherapy
prescribed, but most of these compounds have several
for patients with periodontitis, but some aggressive
side effects. Moreover, the widespread use of
forms of periodontitis may benefit with adjunctive use
antimicrobial agents against oral anaerobes has been
of systemic antimicrobials (Ahuja et al., 2012).
associated with a significant increase of the
antimicrobial resistance, particularly against b-lactams
Several microorganisms have been implicated
(Senhorinho et al., 2012). In addition, most of
as pathogens in periodontitis, such as Porphyromonas
microorganisms recovered from periodontal sites are
gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, P. nigrescens,
strict anaerobes and culture and susceptibility tests of
Tannerella forsythia, spirochetes, Aggregatibacter
anaerobes are not frequently performed in Brazil, what
constitutes a serious problem since clinicians have to
nucleatum, frequently associated with other Gram-
choose antimicrobials just using international literature.
* Department of Pathology and Clinical Propaedeutics. School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil** Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil, Grants: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP. Process number: 2007/51016-3. GAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C. M. Antimicrobial susceptibility to b-lactams and metronidazole of microorganisms isolated from chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013.
Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the
A total of 187 isolates of strict and facultative
susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from chronic
anaerobic bacteria were submitted to the susceptibility
and aggressive periodontitis to b-lactams and
tests. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was
metronidazole, and evaluate the production of b-
evaluated on 21 isolates of Aggregatibacteractinomycetemcomitans, 11 isolates of Bacteroidessp., 13 isolates of Eubacterium sp., 3 isolates of E. lentum, 4 isolates of Fusobacterium sp., 33 isolates
MATERIAL AND METHOD
of F. nucleatum, 5 F. periodonticum, 12 Parvimonasmicra, 9 Peptostreptococcus sp., 4 isolates of P. anaerobius, 10 Porphyromonas sp., 23
Patients. This study was approved by the Ethics Porphyromonas gingivalis, 5 Prevotella sp., 16 P. in-
Committee in Research of the School of Dentistry of
termedia, 7 P. nigrescens, and 11 isolates of
Araçatuba. The population of this study consisted of
50 patients with clinical and radiographic characteristics
of chronic periodontitis, seen at the School of Dentistry
Antimicrobial susceptibility tests. The minimal
of Araçatuba and private clinics for initial trial for
inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar
treatment. Patient ages ranged from 26 to 59 years
dilution method using Wilkins-Chalgren agar
(mean 43.3). Additionally, 8 patients with clinical and
supplemented with horse blood, hemin (1 mg/mL),
radiographic features of aggressive periodontitis, aged
and menadione (5 mg/mL). The bacterial inoculum
from 4.5 to 13 years were included. Medical data
was standardized in 105 cells/spot and transferred
revealed that all patients were in good general health.
to the Petri plates containing the antimicrobials and
The diagnostic and evaluation of the periodontal sta-
the control plates (without drugs), using a Steer`s
tus of the patients were carried out by specialists in
replicator (Cefar Ltda, São Paulo, Brazil). The
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was defined
as the smallest concentration of the drug that
During the first visit, written informed consent was
completely inhibited the bacterial growth. The
obtained from each patient or their responsible before
following antimicrobial drugs were tested: amoxicillin
enrolment in the study. Patients who had received
(Bayer S.A., São Paulo, Brazil), amoxicillin/
antibiotics 6 months before the initial clinical trial were
clavulanate (Smithkline Beecham Brasil Ltda, São
excluded. The clinical samples were collected from the
Paulo, Brazil), cefoxitin (Merck Sharp & Dohme, São
3 deepest non-contiguous periodontal sites (probing
Paulo, Brazil), imipenem (Merck Sharp & Dohme, São
depth ≥ 5 mm) presenting clinical characteristics of
Paulo, Brazil), benzylpenicillin (Fontoura-Wyeth S.A.,
inflammation and loss of attachment. Sample collection
São Paulo, Brazil) and metronidazole (Laboratórios
was performed by mean of sterile paper points, which
Pfizer Ltda, Guarulhos, Brazil). The breakpoints used
were introduced into periodontal pockets and remained
for interpretation were those recommended by the
there for 30s. After this procedure, the paper points were
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (2007).
pooled and transferred to transport medium VMGA III
The test and control dishes were incubated
(Gaetti-Jardim et al., 2012).
anaerobically (90% N2 + 10% CO2) at 37ºC, for 48
Microbial isolation and identification. In the
laboratory, aliquots of VMGA III were submitted to se-
F. nucleatum ATCC 10953, F. nucleatum ATCC
rial 10 fold dilutions in VMG I and were plated on
25586, E. lentum ATCC 43055, B. fragilis ATCC
fastidious anaerobic agar (FAA) supplemented with
23745, E. coli ATCC 25922, S. aureus ATCC 29213,
yeast extract (0.5%), hemin (1 mg/mL), menadione (5
P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. faecalis ATCC
mg/mL) and 5% horse blood, tryptic soy serum
29212 were used as reference strains for quality con-
bacitracin vancomycin agar (TSBVA), and incubated
in anaerobiosis (90% N2 + 10% CO ), at 37ºC, for 14
and 3 days, respectively. Pure cultures were obtained
Detection of b-lactamases. All the microorganisms
and the isolates were subjected to microbial speciation.
able to resistant to at least 1,0 mg/mL of the tested b-
Initially, the isolates were subjected to Gram staining,
lactms were submitted to assays to evaluate the
evaluation colony morphology on blood agar plates,
production of b-lactamases, using biological and
identification by biochemical tests and amplification of
chromogenic cephalosporin methods (Gaetti-Jardim
DNA by PCR (Gaetti-Jardim et al.). et al., 2007). The tested strains included 9 PrevotellaGAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C. M. Antimicrobial susceptibility to b-lactams and metronidazole of microorganisms isolated from chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013. spp., 2 Peptostreptococcus spp., 12 fusobacteria, and
DISCUSSION
2 Bacteroides sp. A chromogenic cephalosporin b-
lactamase assay using Cefinase disks was performed
The effectiveness of the antimicrobials in the
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
treatment of mixed anaerobic infections of the head
and neck is undermined by empirical selection of drugs
In the biological method, 20 µL of cultures of
and the problem of self-medication. In addition,
the resistant isolate were plated on the surface of
microorganisms producing b-lactamases are frequently
Wilkins-Chalgren agar, containing 1,0 µg/mL of the
detected in dental biofilm from childhood to adulthood
tested b-lactam (benzylpenicillin or cefoxitin). These
particularly in infectious processes (Fosse et al., 2002;
plates were then incubated anaerobically at 37°C for
48-72 h. After incubation, the cultures were exposed
to chloroform fumes for 20 min and then covered with
The strict anaerobes play a major role in the
3 mL of semi-solid brain heart infusion (BHI) agar
pathogenesis of chronic or aggressive periodontitis and
previously inoculated with 106 cells of Streptococcus
the systemic use of antimicrobial agents may improve
pyogenes FOA-94F14, sensitive to all tested b-
the treatment of such infections when associated to
lactams in a concentration of ≤ 0.06 mg/mL. The Petri
local procedures and modification of oral hygiene
dishes were then incubated under aerobiosis for 24
standards. Moreover, periodontitis is a reservoir of
h at 37°C. After incubation, the presence of this halo
opportunistic pathogens and their eradication depends
of growth was indicative of the degradation of the b-
on use of antimicrobials, particularly b-lactams (Ahuja
lactam. Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 43858 was used
et al.), while metronidazole is the frequently used in
as the positive control of b-lactamase production.
the therapy of anaerobic mixed infections, specially due
to its action on Gram-negative anaerobes associatedwith oral infections, and its association with amoxicillin
has been evaluated in the treatment of aggressive
periodontitis (Casarin et al., 2012).
It was not verified any difference in the
Most studies that deal with the emergence of
susceptibility patterns of the isolates recovered from
antimicrobial resistance of oral bacteria have been
chronic or aggressive periodontitis and the results
done in the developed countries and little information
are presented regardless the source of the clinical
is available from south hemisphere (Gaetti-Jardim
samples, in Tables I and II. All strains tested were
Júnior et al., 2007). In addition, antimicrobial resistance
susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate and imipenem,
has expanded considerably, which has rendered
but variable levels of resistance to amoxicillin,
traditional prescription habits critical in the absence of
benzylpenicillin, and cefoxitin were detected.
laboratorial tests (Baumgartner & Xia, 2003). This fact
Resistance to b-lactams was frequently detected in
is further aggravated when one considers the relevance
Gram-negative strict anaerobes, particularly in the
of the phenomenon of self-medication, which limits the
genera Fusobacterium, Prevotella and Bacteroides,
efficacy of treatment and can make prescribing a
although some anaerobic cocci also evidenced
difficult task, as it modifies the local patterns of
actinomycetemcomitans (9.5%); in addition, 19% of
The resistance to amoxicillin and benzylpenicillin
was similar to previously reported in the literature from
Peptostreptococcus spp. presented intermediate
developing countries (Brescó-Salinas et al., 2006;
susceptibility to this antimicrobial agent.
Gaetti-Jardim Júnior et al., 2007) and evidenced that
most of resistant isolates belonged to a peculiar group
Out of 25 bacterial isolates resistant or
of Gram Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
presenting intermediate susceptibility to to b-lactams,
Clinical -negative strict anaerobes, as also reported to
20 (80%) were b-lactamase producers (10.7% of the
bacteria isolated from endodontic infections (Gaetti-
isolated bacteria). The production of these hydrolytic
Jardim Júnior et al., 2007). The bacteria that accounted
enzymes seems to be the major mechanism of
for the significantly increased proportion of resistance
resistance to b-lactams, excluding Bacteroides sp.
to amoxicillin and penicillin G in clinical samples were
and peptostreptococci, where b-lactamases were not
Gram-negative rods, susceptible to metronidazole. The
results of Table II suggest that b-lactamases from
GAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C. M. Antimicrobial susceptibility to b-lactams and metronidazole of microorganisms isolated from chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013.
Table I. Susceptibility to antimicrobials of 187 clinical isolates recovered from chronic and aggressive periodontitis.
1 Peptostreptococcus spp. (25)
GAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C. M. Antimicrobial susceptibility to b-lactams and metronidazole of microorganisms isolated from chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013.
Table II. Production of b-lactamases by oral microorganisms isolated
GAETTI-JARDIM JÚNIOR, E. & SCHEITZER, C.
from chronic or aggressive periodontitis. M. Susceptibilidad antimicrobiana a b-lactámicos y *Taxon (N) Production of β−lactamases
metronidazol de microorganismos aislados de
periodontitis crónica y agresiva. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(2):193-198, 2013. RESUMEN: El objetivo fue evaluar la suscep-
tibilidad a ß-lactámicos y metronidazol, y evaluar la
producción de ß-lactamasas por microorganismos
aislados de pacientes con periodontitis crónica y agre-sivo. Las muestras fueron obtenido de 50 pacientes
*Isolates presenting resistance or intermediate susceptibility to the tested b-
con periodontitis y microorganismos aislados en me-
dios de cultivo selectivos y no selectivos, identifica-dos por métodos bioquímicos y probados a la sus-
anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria are active on penicillins and
ceptibilidad a los antimicrobianos (amoxicilina,
cephalosporins, as also described by Wybo et al. (2007) and
amoxicilina/clavulanato, cefoxitina, imipenem,
Gaetti-Jardim Júnior et al. (2007).
metronidazol, penicilina G). Los aislados fueron re-
sistentes a por lo menos 1 mg/ml de cualquier dro-gas analizadas fueron evaluados para verificar la pro-
The association of amoxicillin/clavulanate and imipenem
ducción de ß-lactamasas por el método de doble capa
were the most effective b-lactams against all tested isolates,
(o biológico) y nitrocefina. Los resultados mostraron
including amoxicillin, penicillin G and metronidazole resistant
resistencia a amoxicilina y penicilina G, mientras la
microorganisms. This effectiveness is related to the action of
susceptibilidad a la asociación amoxicilina/
clavulanate in inhibiting most b-lactamases of oral
clavulanate, cefoxitina y imipenem fue ampliamente
microorganisms (Gaetti-Jardim Júnior et al., 2007) and the
difundido entre los microrganismos. Resistencia a
stability of carbapenems against most frequent b-lactamases.
estas drogas mostraron una clara correlación con la
Although imipenem-hydrolyzing class D b-lactamase has been
producción de ß-lactamasas en la mayoría de gru-
identified, the present investigation evidenced that all b-
lactamase producers were highly susceptible to this
PALABRAS CLAVE: periodontitis,
carbapenem. However, due to its effectiveness on
antimicrobianos, b-lactámicos, bacteria,
pseudomonads and other resistant microorganisms, the use
metronidazol.
of carbapenems should be restrict to severe infections,
particularly life-threatening diseases, to avoid disseminationof resistance (Gaetti-Jardim Júnior et al., 2007). REFERENCES
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