Effects of Sub Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of Metronidazole and Penicillin on Morphology of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Scanning Electron Microscopy Observation

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of antibiotics that inhibits the visible growth of bacteria. It has been reported that sub-MIC of antibiotics may result in morphological alterations, along with the biochemical and physiological changes in bacteria. The purpose of this study was to examine morphological changes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, after the treatment with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. The bacterial morphology was observed with scanning electron microscope, after incubating with sub-MIC antibiotics. The length of A. actinomycetemcomitans was increased after the incubation with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. Sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin inhibited bacterial division and induced long filaments. Our study showed that metronidazole and penicillin can induce the morphological changes in A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Molecular Identification of Bacterial Species Present on Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes play an essential role in oral hygiene. However, they can be significant in microbial transmission and can increase the risk of infection, since they can serve as a reservoir for microorganisms in healthy, oral-diseased and medically ill adults. This study was conducted to evaluate toothbrush contamination in six toothbrushes donated from four people. Two participants each supplied two toothbrushes - one used in the bathroom and one used in the workplace. The other two people each donated two toothbrushes used in the workplace. Polymerase chain reaction was used to construct a 16S rRNA clone library. Sequences of cloned DNA were compared with those from the reference organisms provided by GenBank. A total 120 clones, representing 20 clones for each toothbrush, were analyzed. They are composed of six pylum, 46 genera and 79 species. The most dominant species were Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus parasanguinis and Haemophilus parainfluenzae. Enterobacter and Escherichia were recovered from toothbrushes used domestically. Toothbrushes used in the workplace did not contain Enterobacteria.

Effect of Sub-Minimal Inhibitory Concentration Antibiotics on Morphology of Periodontal Pathogens

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of antibiotics that inhibits the visible growth of a microorganism. It has been reported that sub-MIC of antibiotics may result in morphological alterations along with biochemical and physiological changes in bacteria. The purpose of this study was to examine morphological changes of periodontal pathogens after treatment with sub-MIC antibiotics. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis were used in this study. The MIC for amoxicillin, doxycycline, metronidazole, penicillin, and tetracycline were determined by broth dilution method. The bacterial morphology was observed with bright field microscope after incubating with sub-MIC antibiotics. The length of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum were increased after incubation with metronidazole; penicillin and amoxicillin. P. gingivalis were increased after incubating with metronidazole and penicillin. However, F. nucleatum showed decreased length after incubation with doxycycline and tetracycline. In this study, we observed that sub-MIC antibiotics can affect the morphology of periodontal pathogens.

Identification of Bacterial Flora on Cellular Phones of Dentists

Dental professionals are repeatedly exposed to many microorganisms present in both blood and saliva. Thus, dental professionals are at a greater risk of acquiring and spreading infections, and the implementation of infections control guidelines is necessary. Cellular phones have become a necessary device for communicating in hospitals. Cellular phones contaminated with bacteria may serve as a fomite in the transmission of pathogens by the hands of medical personnel. Nevertheless, studies about rate and levels of bacterial contamination of cellular phones have been extremely limited with regards to dental personnel. The purpose of this study was to identify bacterial flora on the cellular phones of dentists by a molecular biological method using the 16S rRNA cloning and sequencing method. We acquired total 200 clones from dentists' cell phones and identified the bacterial species. Pseudomonas (34.6%), Lactobacillus (18.5%), Azomonas (11.5%), and Janthinobacterium (6%) were the dominant genera on dentists' cell phones. The oral bacteria identified were Anaerococcus lactolyticus, Gibbsiella dentisursi, Lactobacills leiae, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oligofermentans, and Streptococcus sanguinis. Pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens such as Carnobacterium funditum, Raoultella planticola, Shigella flexneri, Lactobacillus iners, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were also identified.