Relationship Between Postoperative Feeding Status and Salivary Bacterial Load Following Oral Surgical Procedures

Oral and maxillofacial surgery involves clean-contaminated wounds exposed to saliva, increasing the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). While systemic antibiotics are commonly used postoperatively, the effect of feeding status on salivary bacterial counts remains unclear.

This prospective observational study included 24 patients (greater than or equal to six years) undergoing oral surgery with postoperative enteral feeding. Salivary bacterial counts were measured preoperatively, during enteral feeding, liquid diet, and regular diet phases using real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests.

During enteral feeding, all patients received systemic antibiotics, and salivary bacterial counts remained comparable to preoperative levels (101%). In the liquid diet phase, bacterial counts decreased with ongoing antibiotics (88%) but increased without antibiotics (122%). During the regular diet phase, counts returned to baseline (98%).

Systemic antibiotics suppress salivary bacterial growth, while reduced oral intake may increase bacterial burden. Additional oral hygiene measures may be necessary during the transition period to prevent SSIs.