The survival of oral streptococci on human skin and its implication in bite-mark investigation

Ten-microlitre aliquots of whole saliva applied to human skin were sampled for periods up to 6.25 h. The rate of loss of recoverable bacteria was 45-50% per hour. After 6.25 h, viable oral streptococci could be recovered. The implications for using a "fingerprint" typing method for these bacteria with regard to the identification of bite-marks are discussed.