Efficacy of the Clindamycin Mouthwash on Oral Flora / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Systemic antibiotic therapy is widely used for prophylaxis in major head and neck surgery, but the efficacy of topical oral antibiotic therapy has not been fully investigated. Therefore we planned to study the efficacy of topical clindamycin gargle on oral flora. Thirty-six healthy adults(20 males, 16 females) were included in the study, and we tried with three oral-washing agents; 0.9% normal saline, 10% povidone iodine, and 75mg clindamycin in 52ml tap water. Samples of saliva were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria immediately before, immediately after, and at 1- and 4-hour intervals after, washing the mouth with a solution of either control(normal saline or povidone iodine) or clindamycin. Quantitative analysis demonstrated significant reduction of oral flora level after use of the topical antibiotic at the 1-, 4-, and 8- hour interval. It is postulated that topical clindamycin, by reducing concentrations of oral flora, may also reduce the incidence of regional infection following major upper aerodigestive tract surgery.