The incidence of bacteremia following oral prophylaxis on pediatric patients

Evaluation of Post-surgical Bacteremia with Use of Povidone-Iodine and Chlorhexidine During Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

BACKGROUND

Microorganisms may invade the blood stream by oral routes through surgical procedures like extractions, fractured teeth and periodontal pockets. The incidence of bacteremia is 70-80 % following tooth extraction, sub gingival scaling and intra ligament injection.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Aim of study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two topical antimicrobial agents for the prevention of post-surgical bacteremia during mandibular third molar surgery. And objectives were to suggest need of proper topical antimicrobial agents and select proper antibiotics before oral surgical procedures in high risk cardiac patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with Class 1, Position B mesioangular impacted mandibular third molar were randomly included in study and divided into 3 groups, each group containing 10 patients. Group I; sterile water group, Group II: povidone-iodine (5 %) group, Group III: chlorhexidine (Q, 2 %) group, pre and post-surgical blood samples were collected and Microbiological analyses of the blood samples were done. The organisms were identified by standard method on grams staining and identification of bacterial species by biochemical tests.

RESULTS

The clinical parameters like oral hygiene index simplified and periodontal index of Russel showed that all patients in three groups had fair oral hygiene with simple gingivitis on mean. In some individuals with slightly higher OHIS and PI scores, bacteremia was noted. All the pre surgical blood samples were negative for the growth of bacteria after 7 days of culture. In total 30 patients, 12 subjects had postoperative bacteremia. Out of those 12 patients 6 cases (60 %) of group I showed positive bacterial growth in the post surgical blood sample, while 4 cases in group III and 2 cases (20 %) in group II showed the same.

CONCLUSION

Use of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine prior to the oral surgical procedures decreases the incidence of bacteremia as compared to sterile water irrigation. Povidone-iodine significantly reduces the incidence bacteremia and number of organisms compared to chlorhexidine and sterile water.

Prevention of Orthopaedic Implant Infection in Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures

The Prevention of Orthopaedic Implant Infection in Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures evidence-based clinical practice guideline was codeveloped by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Dental Association. This guideline replaces the previous AAOS Information Statement, "Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Bacteremia in Patients With Joint Replacement," published in 2009. Based on the best current evidence and a systematic review of published studies, three recommendations have been created to guide clinical practice in the prevention of orthopaedic implant infections in patients undergoing dental procedures. The first recommendation is graded as Limited; this recommendation proposes that the practitioner consider changing the long-standing practice of routinely prescribing prophylactic antibiotic for patients with orthopaedic implants who undergo dental procedures. The second, graded as Inconclusive, addresses the use of oral topical antimicrobials in the prevention of periprosthetic joint infections. The third recommendation, a Consensus statement, addresses the maintenance of good oral hygiene.

Postoperative bacteremia in periodontal flap surgery, with and without prophylactic antibiotic administration: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES

Many a times in clinical periodontology, the decision whether to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or not, is perplexing.The present study was conducted to compare the bacteremias induced after periodontal flap surgeries with and without prophylactic antibiotics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The occurrence of postoperative bacteremia following periodontal flap surgery was studied in 30 patients. On these patients, 30 quadrant wise flap surgeries were carried out without any preoperative prophylactic antibiotics and 30 surgeries carried out after prophylactic administration of amoxycillin preoperatively. A blood sample was taken from each patient at the time of maximum surgical trauma and was cultured for micro-organisms and antibiotic sensitivity.

RESULTS

18 out of 60 blood samples were positive for micro-organisms. There was a significant reduction in post operative bacteremia after amoxycillin prophylaxis (x(2) - 7.96 with P<0.01) as post operative bacteremia was found in 14 of the non medicated patients as compared to only 4 of the pre medicated patients. The micro-organisms encountered in the study are as follows:- 1) Staphylococcus albus coagulase negative, 2) Klebsiella, 3) Psedomonas aerugenosa, 4) Streptococcus viridans, 5) Alpha hemolytic streptococcus, 6) Neisseria catarrhalis

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the study, it is concluded that the incidence of postoperative bacteremia following periodontal flap surgery is not as high as previously reported. The clinical results show that Amoxicillin is highly effective in reducing postoperative bacteremia in periodontal flap surgery and thus in preventing the possible sequelae (Infective Endocarditis and other systemic maladies) in susceptible patients. However, cefotaxime and cephalexin may prove to be more effective in preventing the same.

The role of anaerobic bacteria in bacteremia

Anaerobic bacteria remain an important cause of bloodstream infections and account for 1-17% of positive blood cultures. This review summarizes the epidemiology, microbiology, predisposing conditions, and treatment of anaerobic bacteremia (AB) in newborns, children, adults and in patients undergoing dental procedures. The majority of AB are due to Gram-negative bacilli, mostly Bacteroides fragilis group. The other species causing AB include Peptostreptococcus, Clostridium spp., and Fusobacterium spp. Many of these infections are polymicrobial. AB in newborns is associated with prolonged labor, premature rupture of membranes, maternal amnionitis, prematurity, fetal distress, and respiratory difficulty. The predisposing conditions in children include: chronic debilitating disorders such as malignant neoplasm, hematologic abnormalities, immunodeficiencies, chronic renal insufficiency, or decubitus ulcers and carried a poor prognosis. Predisposing factors to AB in adults include malignant neoplasms, hematologic disorders, transplantation of organs, recent gastrointestinal or obstetric gynecologic surgery, intestinal obstruction, diabetes mellitus, post-splenectomy, use of cytotoxic agents or corticosteroids, and an undrained abscess. Early recognition and appropriate treatment of these infections are of great clinical importance.

Microbiology of odontogenic bacteremia: beyond endocarditis

SUMMARY

The human gingival niche is a unique microbial habitat. In this habitat, biofilm organisms exist in harmony, attached to either enamel or cemental surfaces of the tooth as well as to the crevicular epithelium, subjacent to a rich vascular plexus underneath. Due to this extraordinary anatomical juxtaposition, plaque biofilm bacteria have a ready portal of ingress into the systemic circulation in both health and disease. Yet the frequency, magnitude, and etiology of bacteremias due to oral origin and the consequent end organ infections are not clear and have not recently been evaluated. In this comprehensive review, we address the available literature on triggering events, incidence, and diversity of odontogenic bacteremias. The nature of the infective agents and end organ infections (other than endocarditis) is also described, with an emphasis on the challenge of establishing the link between odontogenic infections and related systemic, focal infections.

Prevention of infective endocarditis: guidelines from the American Heart Association: a guideline from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this statement is to update the recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) for the prevention of infective endocarditis, which were last published in 1997.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A writing group appointed by the AHA for their expertise in prevention and treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The writing group reviewed input from national and international experts on IE. The recommendations in this document reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related bacteremia and IE; in vitro susceptibility data of the most common microorganisms, which cause IE; results of prophylactic studies in animal models of experimental endocarditis; and retrospective and prospective studies of prevention of IE. MEDLINE database searches from 1950 through 2006 were done for English language articles using the following search terms: endocarditis, infective endocarditis, prophylaxis, prevention, antibiotic, antimicrobial, pathogens, organisms, dental, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, streptococcus, enterococcus, staphylococcus, respiratory, dental surgery, pathogenesis, vaccine, immunization and bacteremia. The reference lists of the identified articles were also searched. The writing group also searched the AHA online library. The American College of Cardiology/AHA classification of recommendations and levels of evidence for practice guidelines were used. The article subsequently was reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

CONCLUSIONS

The major changes in the updated recommendations include the following. (1) The committee concluded that only an extremely small number of cases of IE might be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures even if such prophylactic therapy were 100 percent effective. (2) IE prophylaxis for dental procedures should be recommended only for patients with underlying cardiac conditions associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome from IE. (3) For patients with these underlying cardiac conditions, prophylaxis is recommended for all dental procedures that involve manipulation of gingival tissue or the periapical region of teeth or perforation of the oral mucosa. (4) Prophylaxis is not recommended based solely on an increased lifetime risk of acquisition of IE. (5) Administration of antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis is not recommended for patients who undergo a genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract procedure. These changes are intended to define more clearly when IE prophylaxis is or is not recommended and to provide more uniform and consistent global recommendations.

Prevention of infective endocarditis: guidelines from the American Heart Association: a guideline from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this statement is to update the recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) for the prevention of infective endocarditis that were last published in 1997.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A writing group was appointed by the AHA for their expertise in prevention and treatment of infective endocarditis, with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The writing group reviewed input from national and international experts on infective endocarditis. The recommendations in this document reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related bacteremia and infective endocarditis, in vitro susceptibility data of the most common microorganisms that cause infective endocarditis, results of prophylactic studies in animal models of experimental endocarditis, and retrospective and prospective studies of prevention of infective endocarditis. MEDLINE database searches from 1950 to 2006 were done for English-language papers using the following search terms: endocarditis, infective endocarditis, prophylaxis, prevention, antibiotic, antimicrobial, pathogens, organisms, dental, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, streptococcus, enterococcus, staphylococcus, respiratory, dental surgery, pathogenesis, vaccine, immunization, and bacteremia. The reference lists of the identified papers were also searched. We also searched the AHA online library. The American College of Cardiology/AHA classification of recommendations and levels of evidence for practice guidelines were used. The paper was subsequently reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

CONCLUSIONS

The major changes in the updated recommendations include the following: (1) The Committee concluded that only an extremely small number of cases of infective endocarditis might be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures even if such prophylactic therapy were 100% effective. (2) Infective endocarditis prophylaxis for dental procedures is reasonable only for patients with underlying cardiac conditions associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome from infective endocarditis. (3) For patients with these underlying cardiac conditions, prophylaxis is reasonable for all dental procedures that involve manipulation of gingival tissue or the periapical region of teeth or perforation of the oral mucosa. (4) Prophylaxis is not recommended based solely on an increased lifetime risk of acquisition of infective endocarditis. (5) Administration of antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis is not recommended for patients who undergo a genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract procedure. These changes are intended to define more clearly when infective endocarditis prophylaxis is or is not recommended and to provide more uniform and consistent global recommendations.

Prevention of infective endocarditis: guidelines from the American Heart Association: a guideline from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this statement is to update the recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) for the prevention of infective endocarditis that were last published in 1997.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A writing group was appointed by the AHA for their expertise in prevention and treatment of infective endocarditis, with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The writing group reviewed input from national and international experts on infective endocarditis. The recommendations in this document reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related bacteremia and infective endocarditis, in vitro susceptibility data of the most common microorganisms that cause infective endocarditis, results of prophylactic studies in animal models of experimental endocarditis, and retrospective and prospective studies of prevention of infective endocarditis. MEDLINE database searches from 1950 to 2006 were done for English-language papers using the following search terms: endocarditis, infective endocarditis, prophylaxis, prevention, antibiotic, antimicrobial, pathogens, organisms, dental, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, streptococcus, enterococcus, staphylococcus, respiratory, dental surgery, pathogenesis, vaccine, immunization, and bacteremia. The reference lists of the identified papers were also searched. We also searched the AHA online library. The American College of Cardiology/AHA classification of recommendations and levels of evidence for practice guidelines were used. The paper was subsequently reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

CONCLUSIONS

The major changes in the updated recommendations include the following: (1) The Committee concluded that only an extremely small number of cases of infective endocarditis might be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures even if such prophylactic therapy were 100% effective. (2) Infective endocarditis prophylaxis for dental procedures is reasonable only for patients with underlying cardiac conditions associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome from infective endocarditis. (3) For patients with these underlying cardiac conditions, prophylaxis is reasonable for all dental procedures that involve manipulation of gingival tissue or the periapical region of teeth or perforation of the oral mucosa. (4) Prophylaxis is not recommended based solely on an increased lifetime risk of acquisition of infective endocarditis. (5) Administration of antibiotics solely to prevent endocarditis is not recommended for patients who undergo a genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract procedure. These changes are intended to define more clearly when infective endocarditis prophylaxis is or is not recommended and to provide more uniform and consistent global recommendations.

The impact of oral disease and nonsurgical treatment on bacteremia in children

BACKGROUND

The authors examine the role of dental disease and nonsurgical dental procedures in the incidence and duration of bacteremia in children.

METHODS

The authors randomized a group of children to receive amoxicillin or a placebo before dental rehabilitation in an operating room setting. They collected eight blood draws at the following times: two minutes after intubation (draw 1); after dental restorations, pulp therapy and cleaning (draw 2); 10 minutes later (draw 3); and five draws during and after dental extractions (draws 4-8). The authors compared dental disease parameters and the type of dental procedures performed with the incidence and duration of bacteremia.

RESULTS

The authors enrolled 100 children (aged 1-8 years) in the study. The incidence of bacteremia from draw 2 was 20 percent in the placebo group and 6 percent in the amoxicillin group (P = .07), and the incidence from draw 3 was 16 percent in the placebo group and zero percent in the amoxicillin group (P = .03). Subjects with higher gingival scores were more likely to have a bacteremia for draw 2 (P = .01). The authors found that subjects in the group with bacteremia for draw 3 had undergone more pulpotomies than did subjects in the group without bacteremia for draw 3 (3 +/- 2.5 standard deviation [SD] versus 1.5 +/- 1.6 SD, P = .04), while they found almost no differences for draw 2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that gingival disease has an impact on bacteremia after dental restorations and prophylaxis. Although antibiotics have an impact, they do not eliminate bacteremia altogether.

Decision-making on the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for dental procedures: a survey of infectious disease consultants and review

There is debate concerning use of antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures for patients at risk of acquiring distant site infection (DSI). We determined the opinions and practices of infectious disease consultants (IDCs) regarding antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent DSIs that result from invasive dental procedures by conducting a survey of the 797 members of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Emerging Infections Network (477 members [60%] responded). Ninety percent of respondents closely follow the American Heart Association guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with valvular heart disease who undergo invasive dental procedures. In contrast, few IDCs recommend prophylaxis for patients with lupus erythematosus, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, dialysis catheters or shunts, cardiac pacemakers, or ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Twenty-five percent to forty percent of respondents recommended prophylaxis for prosthetic vascular grafts, orthopedic implants, or chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. We conclude that IDCs differ considerably in their assessment of the need for prophylaxis for patients who have noncardiac risk factors for DSI. These differences underscore the need for definitive studies to delineate appropriate candidates for antimicrobial prophylaxis in dental practice.

Clinical review: bacteremia caused by anaerobic bacteria in children

This review describes the microbiology, diagnosis and management of bacteremia caused by anaerobic bacteria in children. Bacteroides fragilis, Peptostreptococcus sp., Clostridium sp., and Fusobacterium sp. were the most common clinically significant anaerobic isolates. The strains of anaerobic organisms found depended, to a large extent, on the portal of entry and the underlying disease. Predisposing conditions include: malignant neoplasms, immunodeficiencies, chronic renal insufficiency, decubitus ulcers, perforation of viscus and appendicitis, and neonatal age. Organisms identical to those causing anaerobic bacteremia can often be recovered from other infected sites that may have served as a source of persistent bacteremia. When anaerobes resistant to penicillin are suspected or isolated, antimicrobial drugs such as clindamycin, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, cefoxitin, a carbapenem, or the combination of a beta-lactamase inhibitor and a penicillin should be administered. The early recognition of anaerobic bacteremia and administration of appropriate antimicrobial and surgical therapy play a significant role in preventing mortality and morbidity in pediatric patients.

Root canal treatment and general health: a review of the literature

REVIEW

The focal infection theory was prominent in the medical literature during the early 1900s and curtailed the progress of endodontics. This theory proposed that microorganisms, or their toxins, arising from a focus of circumscribed infection within a tissue could disseminate systemically, resulting in the initiation or exacerbation of systemic illness or the damage of a distant tissue site. For example, during the focal infection era rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was identified as having a close relationship with dental health. The theory was eventually discredited because there was only anecdotal evidence to support its claims and few scientifically controlled studies. There has been a renewed interest in the influence that foci of infection within the oral tissues may have on general health. Some current research suggests a possible relationship between dental health and cardiovascular disease and published case reports have cited dental sources as causes for several systemic illnesses. Improved laboratory procedures employing sophisticated molecular biological techniques and enhanced culturing techniques have allowed researchers to confirm that bacteria recovered from the peripheral blood during root canal treatment originated in the root canal. It has been suggested that the bacteraemia, or the associated bacterial endotoxins, subsequent to root canal treatment, may cause potential systemic complications. Further research is required, however, using current sampling and laboratory methods from scientifically controlled population groups to determine if a significant relationship between general health and periradicular infection exists.

Oral microflora as a cause of endocarditis and other distant site infections

Bacteremia originating from the oral cavity is common, but the role of bacteremia in the genesis of infective endocarditis and other distant site infections is unclear. Only a small percentage of oral flora have been associated with distant site infection. Important issues remain unresolved concerning the identification of patients at risk, the relative risk from invasive dental procedures versus naturally occurring bacteremia, and the impact of prophylactic antibiotics on the incidence, nature, magnitude, and duration of bacteremia from the oral cavity. This article addresses the controversies in infection management in patients at risk for distant site infection.

Optimum sampling time for detection of dental bacteraemia in children

A total of 458 blood cultures were taken from 229 children aged 2 to 16 yr. Each 6 ml sample was taken starting at one of the following times after the extraction of a single tooth: 10 s, 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, 180 s, 600 s and continuously over 2.5 min. The samples were cultured in the BACTEC radiometric culture system and when positive the bacteria isolated were speciated. At 30 s 56% of the samples were positive, the highest proportion, in contrast to only 38% of positive samples at 90 s and 28% at 600 s. Over 50% of the organisms found were Viridans streptococci.

Postscaling bacteremia in HIV-associated gingivitis and periodontitis

Aseptic venipuncture was used to obtain samples of blood from 22 patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with gingivitis (HIV-G) and 19 HIV-seropositive patients with periodontitis (HIV-P), 15 and 30 minutes after the initiation of routine dental scaling and root planing. The presence of colony forming units in 1.2 ml aliquots of blood collected with the Isostate system (DuPont Isostat System, Doraville, Ga.) was assayed on trypticase soy blood agar. Six of the samples from HIV-G subjects were positive for colony forming units 15 minutes after scaling but not at 30 minutes. Similar evidence of bacteremia was found in seven of the HIV-P patients 15 minutes after scaling was initiated in this group, with no microbial growth detectable in samples obtained at 30 minutes. In two HIV-G and three HIV-P patients with demonstrable bacteremias a postoperative fever developed. For both HIV-G and HIV-P groups no significant difference was found between the absolute CD4 T-cell counts of nonbacteremic versus bacteremic patients (p greater than 0.05). These observations suggest that special provisions for antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient group may be unnecessary.

Vascular diseases and oral infections

Vascular diseases are multifactorial, and several risk factors, such as increasing age, male sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemias and smoking, are well-known. In recent studies, associations have also been found between preceding infections and development of myocardial or cerebral infarction. Preceding acute respiratory infections are reported to be more common in patients with myocardial or cerebral infarction. Cerebral infarction may follow infective endocarditis, bacterial meningitis or any other bacteremic infection. Oral infections are common chronic bacterial infections. Although oral infections are local, they may lead to systemic infectious complications via stransient bacteremias, and there may also be other systemic effects, for instance, via immunologic or toxic mechanisms. Association between oral infections and vascular diseases has been studied in 2 Finnish case-control studies concerning myocardial and cerebral infarction. In these case-control studies, it was found that oral infections were more common in patients with myocardial or cerebral infarction than in their age- and sex-matched community controls. There are many factors, such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse, which may predispose to both development of infarction and oral infections. Therefore, the observed association between oral infections and vascular diseases may result from these common predisposing factors, and causality between them cannot be inferred. There are, however, several possible links between oral infections and infarction. Although causality between oral infections and infarction cannot be proven, patients who have poor oral health need health education, paying attention to those common risk factors of oral infections and vascular diseases. Furthermore, their oral infections should be treated, because they may predispose to infectious complications, which may lead to infarction.

Effects of subgingival irrigation on bacteremia following scaling and root planing

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of professional subgingival irrigation, together with subsequent patient administered home marginal irrigation, on the incidence of bacteremia after scaling and root planing (Sc/RP). A total of 60 periodontal maintenance patients were assigned to either Group 1: subgingival irrigation, with 0.12% CHX and daily marginal irrigation with 0.04% CHX; Group 2: subgingival irrigation with 0.12% CHX and daily marginal irrigation with water; Group 3: subgingival and daily marginal irrigation with water; Group 4: Non-irrigation (control). Patients entered the study after receiving a thorough periodontal maintenance appointment including a complete examination, Sc/RP, and standard oral hygiene instruction. Blood samples were taken at the 3-month visit before and after Sc/RP. Microbiological culturing was done using the Septi-Chek system, selective and non-selective media. Results from 54 patients showed that bacteremia was detected prior to Sc/RP in 2 patients and after Sc/RP in 10 patients. No significant effect by treatment regimens on post Sc/RP bacteremia could be detected. The organisms isolated included Eubacterium lentum, Propionibacterium acnes, Streptococcus species, Neisseria species, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus species, and un-identified Gram-negative rods.

Occult bacteremia in the emergency department

The problem of occult bacteremia in infants and children has been reviewed. The condition is not uncommon and may occur in 3% to 10% of infants and children six months to two years of age who present with temperature greater than or equal to 38.3 C. Meningitis may complicate bacteremia in 4.5% to 8.5%, regardless of identification of a focus of infection. Early identification and proper therapy are essential and often incumbent on the emergency physician.

Evidence for transient Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia in patients and in healthy humans

A new blood lysis-filtration culture technique revealed a high incidence of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the blood of patients and of healthy people. Of 2,004 blood cultures from patients, the blood lysis method grew S. epidermidis in 233 (11.6%), whereas a conventional two-bottle culture system grew this organism in 48 (2.4%). To determine the incidence deriving from the skin, 100 mock blood cultures by each technique were performed. The antecubital fossa was prepared as for a phlebotomy. The needle was inserted through the skin but not into the vein. Needles were cultured by conventional and lysis-filtration culture. A total of 1 conventional culture of 100 (1%) and 2 lysis-filtration cultures of 100 (2%) grew S. epidermidis. Of 100 lysis-filtration and conventional control cultures with broth in place of blood, no cultures were positive. Blood samples from 8 of 117 (6.8%) healthy blood donors were positive for S. epidermidis by lysis-filtration, whereas no matching conventional cultures were positive. Phage typing patterns of skin and blood strains from selected individuals were the same. S. epidermidis isolates were often concomitant with isolates of bona fide pathogens. I conclude that intermittent, transient, asymptomatic S. epidermidis bacteremia occurs frequently in patients and in healthy humans.

Bacteremia following dental cleaning in patients with and without penicillin prophylaxis

The rate, type, and magnitude of bacteremia were studied in 56 patients undergoing dental cleaning with and without penicillin prophylaxis. Sixty-one percent of patients without penicillin prophylaxis were bacteremic 5 minutes following the procedure. Although a significant decrease in detectable bacteremia occurred in patients receiving penicillin prophylaxis, the recovery of streptococci was not significantly different in the two groups. Using the present sample of patients as a basis for statistical inference, the true rate of bacteremia in such patients could be between 41% and 79% with 95% certainty. The magnitude of bacteremia was low and positive quantitative pour plates occurred at 5 minutes and only in patients without penicillin prophylaxis. Of the 71 total bacterial isolates, 53 (74.6%) were anaerobes and 18 (25.4%) were aerobes. This study indicates that parenteral penicillin prophylaxis for dental cleaning decreased detectable bacteremia rates significantly and could be recommended for patients with valvular heart disease who are known to be vulnerable to endocarditis.

The incidence of transient bacteremia during periodontal dressing change

Twenty patients undergoing treatment for periodontal disease and not receiving antibiotics, volunteered to donate blood for culture studies to determine the incidence of transient bateremia during the dressing change and suture removal 1 week after periodontal surgery. Each patient contributed 20 ml of blood prior to the dressing change and an additional 20 ml during suture removal. The samples were cultured both aerobically and anaerobically. Bacteria were demonstrated in five out of 20 postoperative cultures (25%). This incidence approached statistical significance at the 0.05 level using Chi-square analysis with a Yates correction. All species were identified as belonging to the genus streptococcus. None of the blood specimens obtained prior to dressing change exhibited bacterial growth. Although the incidence of bacteremia in this study was not statistically significant at the 0.05 level, it may be clinically significant that five out of 20 patients demonstrated transient bacteremia. Commercial materials and equipment are identified in this report to specify the investigative procedures. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement or that the materials and equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Furthermore, the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not to be construed as those of the Army Medical Department.

The incidence of bacteremia in pediatric patients following tooth extraction

Procedures which produce bacteremias may lead to bacterial endocarditis in the susceptible patient. Recent work has suggested that bacteremia does not occur in children following extraction of teeth as it does in adults. One hundred and seven children were divided into four groups. Group I, which consisted of children who had nondiseased primary teeth extracted, had 35% positive blood cultures. Group II consisted of children who had diseased primary and permanent teeth removed. The incidence of positive blood cultures was 53%. Group III, which consisted of patients who had extractions of nondiseased permanent teeth, had a 61% incidence of positive blood cultures. Group IV served as a negative control. Bacteremias do occur in children following the extraction of normal and diseased primary and permanent teeth. Therefore, the susceptible pediatric patient who is to undergo a dental extraction procedure must be given prophylactic antibiotics.