The incidence of transient bacteremia during periodontal dressing change

Twenty patients undergoing treatment for periodontal disease and not receiving antibiotics, volunteered to donate blood for culture studies to determine the incidence of transient bateremia during the dressing change and suture removal 1 week after periodontal surgery. Each patient contributed 20 ml of blood prior to the dressing change and an additional 20 ml during suture removal. The samples were cultured both aerobically and anaerobically. Bacteria were demonstrated in five out of 20 postoperative cultures (25%). This incidence approached statistical significance at the 0.05 level using Chi-square analysis with a Yates correction. All species were identified as belonging to the genus streptococcus. None of the blood specimens obtained prior to dressing change exhibited bacterial growth. Although the incidence of bacteremia in this study was not statistically significant at the 0.05 level, it may be clinically significant that five out of 20 patients demonstrated transient bacteremia. Commercial materials and equipment are identified in this report to specify the investigative procedures. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement or that the materials and equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Furthermore, the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not to be construed as those of the Army Medical Department.