Isolation and characterization of streptococcus mutans as causative agent of dental caries in Gaza strip and their antibacterial susceptibility pattern

Abstract EN

Background: Dental caries is a well-known major oral health problem in most countries.

The disease's multifactorial etiology includes multiple bacterial species; S.

mutans is the main pathogen associated with the disease.

S.

mutans is a gram-positive facultative anaerobe commonly found in the oral cavity.

Objective: To isolate and characterize S.

mutans as potential causative bacteria of dental carries and to study its sensitivity to antibacterial agents and antibacterial mouth rinses from patients visiting dental clinics in the Gaza strip.

Materials and methods: Open-label experimental study was performed on 300 patients and 300 control visiting dental clinics in Gaza strip.

All suspected S.

mutans isolates were identified biochemically, tested against ten commonly used antibiotics by disc diffusion method, studied in vitro for efficacy of nine essential oils, five toothpaste and four mouth rinses.

Results: Among 300 patients tested in this study, 95 showed a positive result for the presence of S.

mutans in their saliva and dental caries.

The most positive cases for S.

mutans in dental caries and saliva were detected in the age group 20-35 years and nonsmoker patients.

Colgate showed the best antimicrobial activity among five different toothpastes.

Antibiotic sensitivity test indicated that S.

mutans was most susceptible to vancomycin (100%), doxycycline (84.2%), tetracycline (83.2%), ciprofloxacin (81.1%) and amoxyclav (75.8%).

Gargarol was found to be the most effective mouth rinse, while clove bud, lemon grass and Tea tree were the most effective oils against S.

mutans.

Conclusion: S.

mutans isolates were moderately resistant to antibiotics.

Use of plant extracts (essential oils) may be recommended as a supportive or alternative option to conventional formulations.