Bacterial Profile Associated with Dental Caries in Jos, Nigeria

Aims: The study was aimed at determining bacterial prevalence and their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics.

Study Design: The research was a cross sectional study which cuts across all age group and gender.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Bacteriology Laboratory of Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Jos, Nigeria, between July and September 2014.

Methodology: We included 150 patients (30 men, 120 women; age range 11-70 years) who gave consent to be included in the study. Swabs were taken from dental plaque and inoculated on basal salt medium containing yeast and bacterial colonies obtained were identified biochemically according Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Antibiotic susceptibility test was then conducted on the isolates identified.

Results: Ninety-five (63.3%) patients had cavities located at the molars, forty-five (30%) between molar and premolar and ten (6.7%) located at the gingival margin. One hundred and twenty (80%) samples were obtained from female patients and thirty (20%) from male patients. Lactobacillus species had the highest occurrence (28.8%). The least was Fusobacterium species (0.7%). The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that Enterobacter species was resistant to all the three antibiotics used in this study. Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus were resistant to erythromycin and vancomycin but sensitive to all the three antibiotics.

Conclusion: A few common acidogenic bacteria known to colonize dental plaque were identified. Susceptibility of the various bacterial isolates to the selected antibiotics varied. Further studies on susceptibility of these bacteria to commonly used antibiotics, antibacterial mouth washes and toothpastes are necessary in order to understand their epidemiology, to limit the spread of resistant bacteria. Larger sample size studies with better isolation, identification and characterization methods are needed. These studies could lead to the identification of strategies for effective biological interventions in the caries process and thereby contribute to improved prevention and treatment.