Journal of Dental Research, Vol 55, 574-579, Copyright © 1976 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Susceptibility of some plaque microorganisms to chemotherapeutic agents
E. Newbrun, R. A. Felton and J. Bulkacz
Investigators have used chemotherapeutic agents topically for plaque
control without knowing the drug concentration necessary to inhibit the
growth of odontopathic microorganisms. S mutans, S sanguis, A viscosus and
A naeslundii are important components of the plaque flora. The minimal
inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations
(MBC) of niddamycin, vancomycin, bacitracin, and kanamycin were determined
for each organism in liquid culture. These antibiotics were selected
because of their low absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Niddamycin, vancomycin, and bacitracin had the lowest MIC, from 0.2 to 10
units/ml. Kanamycin was inhibitory only at much higher concentrations (130
to 500 units/ml). The corresponding MBC was generally higher than the MIC.
A viscosus was the most resistant organism tested. These data are important
in designing controlled release devices for delivering a suitable
antibiotic on a continuous basis intraorally.
