Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Aerococcus and Enterococcus Strains Isolated from Apical Periodontitis in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Backgroud: Apical periodontitis is caused by polymicrobial infection. The causative bacteria are generally organized into biofilms that adhere to the canal walls, and may include facultative bacteria such as Aerococcus and Enterococcus, which are the causative agents of several endodontic infections and have a natural resistance to many antibiotics including penicillin. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of these bacteria in diagnosed cases of apical periodontitis and determine their antibiotic resistance profiles. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients diagnosed with apical periodontitis by a dental surgeon were included in the study. Samples were obtained from the root canals by aspiration and the exudates were subjected to standard microbiology methods according to the recommendations of the French Microbiology Society. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed according to the method of Kirby-Bauer. Results: In total, thirty-three bacterial strains were isolated from samples of affected root canals, of which 26 were Aerococcus (78.8%) and 7 Enterococcus (21.2%). Resistance of these strains to the antibiotics commonly used in endodontics gave the following pattern of resistance: amoxicillin-clavulanate (50%), spiramycine (61.5%), lincomycin (76.9%), erythromycin (61.5%) and amoxicillin (65.4%). Conclusion: Due to the high levels of antibiotic resistance found in the apical periodontitis causative strains, an epidemiological monitoring of antibiotic resistance is paramount. Developing countries, such as Burkina Faso, should make this a priority for their health development programs.