Prevalence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in individuals with periodontal disease: a clinico-microbiological study
Rahul Jha, Nun Sangi, Reghunathan S. Preethanath, Tazeen Dawood, Mamatha Shetty, Faris J. Almutairi, J. Suresh Babu, C. Swarnalatha, Abhishek S. NayyarBackground and aim
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are a heterogeneous assemblage of naturally occurring species that are capable of dissimilatory reduction of sulfates to sulfides. Recently, these bacteria have been found as a new group of inhabitants in deep periodontal pockets wherein their presence is likely indicative of active tissue degrading activity within the periodontal tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of SRB in periodontal pockets of chronic periodontitis patients and correlate the same with site-specific clinical periodontal parameters.
Patients and methods
The present study was designed as a prospective, cross-sectional study wherein 60 chronic periodontitis patients with probing pocket depth (PPD) of greater than or equal to 4 mm were included, and clinical parameters such as gingival index, PPD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded, while the subgingival plaque samples were evaluated for the presence of SRB by enrichment culture method in an anoxic chamber.
Results
The findings of the present study suggested a positive correlation between the presence of SRB and a mean gingival index of 2.06 ± 0.37, mean PPD of 9.36 ± 0.82 mm and a mean loss of 11.00 ± 1.10 mm of CAL in the patients with the results being statistically highly significant (
Conclusion
Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that periodontal SRB were found to be associated with more severe clinical categories of gingivitis and periodontitis, and with periodontal sites having increased PPD and increased loss of CAL which calls for further research in this regard to seek the possible etiologic role of SRB in chronic periodontitis patients.