MICROBIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLICATIONS OF DENTAL IMPLANTATION

Abstract

The aim: To describe microbiological features of the Staphylococcus spp. involved in complications of dental implantation. Materials and methods: The main method was bacteriological. Indentification of the obtained isolates was done using commercially available test kits. Adhesive properties were evaluated using Brillis technique. Biofilm-forming ability was studied according to Christensen et al. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done following EUCAST recomendations. Results: There were 26 smears taken from the peri-implant area and gingival pockets of 12 patients. We obtained 38 isolates. Most of the patients were positive for Streptococcus spp. – 94% and Staphylococcus spp. – 90%. Among the representatives of Staphylococcus spp., the initial share of clinical isolates was S. aureus (34.21%) with inherent coagulase-positive properties. Coagulase-negative pathogens accounted for 65.79% of Staphylococcus spp., among them S. epidermidis, S. hominis, S. warneri were the main. All obtained isolates had typical properties, but appearance of small colonial variants of S. aureus was also recorded. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed in 100% of cases. Among 13 isolates of S. aureus there were 2 cultures resistant to cefoxitin, i. e. methicillin-resistant by phenotype. Clinical isolates of S. aureus, colonizing peri-implant tissues in infectious-inflammatory complications of dental implantation, also had high adhesive and biofilm-forming properties. Clinical isolates of S. epidermidis an average ability to form biofilms. Conclusions: There is a prooved direct correlation between biofilm-forming ability and adhesive properties in highly biofilm-forming clinical isolates involved in the occurrence of purulent-inflammatory complications in peri-implant site.