ETIOLOGICAL BACTERIAL SPECTRUM OF PATIENTS WITH ODONTOGENIC AND NON-ODONTOGENIC ABSCESSES AND PHLEGMONS IN THE MAXILLOFACIAL AREA

Abstract

Background: Clarifying the bacterial causes of inflammatory diseases has a major role in the treatment of this type of pathology. Materials and methods: In a retrospective study of 138 adult patients with abscesses and phlegmons of the head and neck, hospitalized and operated on urgently in the Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery at University Multispecialty Hospital for Active Treatment "Sveta Marina" EAD – city of Varna, Bulgaria. Depending on their origin, the patients were divided into two groups - with odontogenic and non-odontogenic abscesses. Results: The study group consists of 73 men (52.9%) and 65 women (47.1%) with a mean age of 43 (18-84) years. The mixed resident microflora, including more than one bacterial species, is isolated in the largest number of cultures – 64.2%. The total number of cultures with Gram-positive bacteria isolated in the samples of the studied 92 patients with isolates is 20,33%. Representatives of Gram-negative bacteria are isolated in 7.49% of all. Obligate anaerobes are found in 2.14% of the isolates. Microorganism fungi are encountered in 3.21% of the crops. In patients with phlegmons of odontogenic origin the ratio between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is 3:1. In phlegmons of non-odontogenic origin, they are entirely of the Gram-negative spectrum. Conclusion: Microorganisms are not isolated in a third of the examined patients, which are most likely long errors in taking material for microbiological examination or in its improper storage and transportation. Of the other crops, the share of resident microorganisms as opportunistic pathogens is the largest. Of the conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, Gram-positive ones predominate.