Unusually isolated Staphylococcus arlettae in intra-oral sutures - Case series

Abstract

Introduction. The human oral cavity comprises various niches such as teeth, gingiva, tongue, soft and hard palate, and various dental prostheses, all inhabited by different bacterial species. Although more than 600 taxa belong to the oral cavity, identifying Staphylococcus arlettae , an incompletely understood bacterium, has been rare. Methods. Three patients who underwent periodontal flap surgeries were reported with the incidental finding of S. arlettae associated with the intra-oral sutures placed. Environmental sampling was performed, to establish the exact source of this bacterium. Results. Staphylococcus arlettae was isolated in three patients’ intra-oral sutures. All environmental samples were negative for the presence of the bacterium. Conclusion. To this date, no studies have identified such an occurrence of Staphylococcus arlettae with intra-oral sutures. Its identification in association with foreign materials, such as sutures, can be considered a potential for surgical site infections and requires further investigation.