Antibiotics and the intraoral abscess

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Oral abscesses, including periodontal and periapical types, require effective antimicrobial management.
• Antibiotic selection is crucial for successful treatment outcomes and preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of various antibiotics against microorganisms isolated from oral abscesses.
• To identify the optimal antibiotic for managing dental abscesses based on sensitivity testing.

Main Methods:

• Cultures were obtained from 13 patients diagnosed with periodontal or periapical abscesses.
• Antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed to assess the efficacy of different antimicrobial agents.
• Microorganisms were identified and their susceptibility to antibiotics was determined.

Main Results:

• Chloromycetin demonstrated high effectiveness but has significant medical contraindications.
• Tetracycline exhibited the lowest efficacy among the tested antibiotics.
• Penicillin showed high potency against dental abscess microorganisms, identifying it as a potential drug of choice.
• Erythromycin is recommended for patients with a history of allergies or asthma.

Conclusions:

• Penicillin is the preferred antibiotic for oral abscesses in non-allergic patients due to its potency.
• Culture and sensitivity testing are essential to guide appropriate antibiotic selection for dental infections.
• Erythromycin serves as a suitable alternative for patients with contraindications to penicillin.