The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of mutans streptococci (S. mutans and S. sobrinus) and Streptococcus anginosus, for seven antibiotics, penicillin G, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, erythromycin, bacitracin, and vancomycin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of seven antibiotics against 3 species (type strains) of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus, 10 strains (wild type) of S. mutans, 7 strains (wild type) of S. sobrinus, and 11 strains (wild type) of S. anginosus, were measured by broth dilution method. All of the type strains of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus had the same susceptibility for penicillin G, amoxicillin, cefuroxime and bacitracin. Type strain of S. anginosus was sensitive in ciprofloxacin, but those of mutans streptococci were not. All of the clinical isolates of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus had the same susceptibility for the seven antibiotics. Our data reveal that mutans streptococci and S. anginosus have similar antibiotic-resistant character. In addition, these results may offer the basic data to verify the antibiotic-resistant mechanism of mutans streptococci and S. anginosus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of 7 putative pathogens in endodontic infections. The specimens were collected from infected pulpal tissue of patients who were referred for root canal treatment to the department of conservative dentistry, Chosun University. Samples were collected aseptically using a barbed broach and a paper point. The cut barbed broaches and paper points were transferred to an eppendorf tube containing 500 ml of 1 X PBS. DNAs were extracted from the samples by direct DNA extraction method using lysis buffer (0.5% EDTA, 1% Triton X-100). Identification of 7 putative pathogens was performed by PCR based on 16S rDNA. The target species were as follows: Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Bacteroides forsythus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Treponema denticola. Our data revealed that the prevalence of P. endodontalis was found in 88.6% (39/54), P. gingivalis 52.3% (23/44), P. nigrescens 18.2% (8/44), P. intermedia 15.9% (7/44), B. forsythus 18.2% (8/44), A. actinomycetemcomitans 2.3% (1/44), T. denticola 25% (11/44) of the samples. The high prevalence of P. endodontalis and P. gingivalis suggests that they may play an important role in the etiology of endodontic infections.