Co-pathogens in Periodontitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Periodontology

Background:

• Localized inflammatory lesions can trigger secondary infections in distant organs.
• Periodontal disease (PD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share common risk factors and often coexist.
• The precise microbial etiology linking PD and IBD remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential common pathogenic microorganisms that may link periodontal disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
• To summarize current evidence on microbial correlations between periodontitis and intestinal inflammation.
• To highlight key bacteria implicated in the comorbidity of PD and IBD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies and systematic reviews.
• Analysis of evidence-based statistics on the prevalence and clinical manifestations of PD and IBD.
• Identification of potential common pathogenic microorganisms based on existing research.

Main Results:

• Invasive microorganisms such as *Porphyromonas gingivalis*, *Fusobacterium nucleatum*, *Klebsiella* spp., and *Campylobacter* spp. are implicated.
• These bacteria may act as microbial bridges facilitating the comorbidity of PD and IBD.
• Research on microbial etiological correlations between periodontitis and intestinal inflammation is scarce.

Conclusions:

• Specific invasive bacteria are potential common pathogenic factors in both periodontal disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Understanding these microbial links is crucial for exploring therapeutic strategies for comorbid PD and IBD.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which these microorganisms contribute to the dual pathology.