Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
Published on: December 17, 2015
Efficacy of Periodontal Surgery With Adjunctive Systemic Antimicrobials in Patients Harbouring Porphyromonas
Ana Carrillo de Albornoz1, Eduardo Montero1, Finn Niclas Pickert1
1ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group. Faculty of Dentistry, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Aim:
To compare the clinical and microbiological outcomes after the use of systemic antimicrobials as adjuncts to periodontal surgery in patients with periodontitis stage III and IV positive for Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Material And Methods:
Patients positive for P. gingivalis at the re-evaluation 6 weeks after subgingival instrumentation and with probing depths (PD) ≥ 6 mm in more than two teeth per quadrant were randomly allocated to periodontal surgery with adjunctive systemic azithromycin (AZI) or metronidazole (MET). Clinical and microbiological outcomes were evaluated at 6, 12 and 48 months after surgery.
Results:
Forty-three subjects were included, with 40 and 36 completing follow-ups at 12 and 48 months, respectively. Clinical outcomes improved and remained stable over time in both groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups for PD reductions at 12 or 48 months. At 48 months, P. gingivalis was detected in 80% (AZI) and 70.6% (MET). At the final visit, no differences in clinical endpoints were observed between patients harbouring P. gingivalis and those who were not.
Conclusions:
Slight differences were observed between the groups, with clinical outcomes improving and remaining stable over time following surgical treatment. Neither protocol suppressed P. gingivalis beyond detection limit 48 months after treatment.
