Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotype prevalence & antibiotic resistance & periodontitis

Journal of Global Antibiotic Resistance

This study looked at the prevalence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotypes in a cohort of 50 UK patients with suspected aggressive periodontitis.  The sensitivity of these isolates to antibiotics was also examined.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotype a was the most prevalent serotype (48%) followed by c, b, e and mixed serotypes (22%, 2%, 2% and 12% respectively).  All isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and metronidazole.  High rates of resistance to clindamycin (87.5%) amoxicillin (83.9%) and ceftazidime (76.8%).  On the other hand, sensitivity to tetracycline and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was high (91.1% and 85.7% respectively).  All isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin.

This study highlights the need for diagnostic and laboratory testing prior to prescribing antibiotics for treating aggressive periodontitis.  This is because amoxicillin in combination with metronidazole, to which the UK Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans isolates had a high resistance rate, is frequently used for treatment.

Read the full paper