Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of agents of dental caries among patients in Uyo, Nigeria

Udoh MA; Onwuezobe IA; Emanghe UE; Johnson EA; Ijezie AE; Olayemi AG

doi:10.61386/imj.v18i3.707

Authors

Udoh MA Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2309-9233
Onwuezobe IA Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Emanghe UE Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Johnson EA Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Ijezie AE Department of Community Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Olayemi AG Shepherd Consults, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v18i3.707

Keywords:

Dental caries, prevalence, antibiotic resistance, fermentable-carbohydrates

Abstract

Background: Dental caries, a common oral disease globally affects nearly 100% of the population. Cariogenic bacteria implicated in caries are often resistant to many antibiotics’ classes. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacterial causes of dental caries among patients in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Methods: One hundred and twenty (120) dental plaque samples were taken and inoculated into Basal salt medium and Basal salt medium agar plates separately. Different morphologically colonies of bacteria were isolated and identified through cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics observed, according to Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Pure colonies (isolates) were biochemically confirmed with Vitek 2 System (bioMe´rieux), with their antibiotic susceptibility test.

Results: Culture growth of 27 (22.5%) bacterial isolates comprised mostly of Burkholderia cepacia group (B. cepacia complex) 7(5.8%). Others include Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus 3(2.5%), Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus 2(1.7%), Enterococcus faecalis 1(0.8%), Enterococcus spp (non E. faecalis) 1(0.8%), Pediococcus pentosaceus 1(0.8%), Kocuria kristinae 1(0.8%), Proteus mirabilis 4(3.3%), Serratia ficaria 2(1.7%), Serratia marcescens 2(1.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 1(0.8%), Acinetobacter spp 1(0.8%) and Enterobacter cloacae ssp dissolvens 1(0.8%). Among Gram-negative isolates, highest level of resistance was for Ceftazidime (66.7%) mostly attributed to B. cepacia isolates while high susceptibility to Levofloxacin was shown by Gram-positive isolates.

Conclusions: Detection of several species of bacteria that were not previously reported as caries aetiological bacteria, and high rate of antibiotic resistance exhibited by these agents of dental caries in Uyo is worrisome. This calls for regular antimicrobial surveys and infection control measures for improved treatment outcomes.