Oral Hygiene and the Prevalence of Oral Group D Streptococci in Medically‐Physically Compromised and Periodontal Disease Patients

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Abstract
The relationship between oral hygiene and oral Group D streptococcal carrier status was examined in two groups of dental clinic patients. Eighteen medically–physically compromised and 20 periodontitis patients were selected for study. Oral hygiene status was assessed and the prevalence of oral Group D streptococci was determined by sampling the oral cavity with a vigorous 15 second rinse with 5 ml peptone–saline solution. Three ml of each sample was cultured at 40°C in 30 ml of SF broth for 72 hours. Esculin fermenting colonies isolated from the SF broth were characterized biochemically according to standardized procedures and patients were classified as either carriers or non–carriers. Group D streptococci were detected in 27.8% of the medically–physically compromised group and 4.5% of the periodontal disease patients. The mean DI–S score of the medically–physically compromised group was significantly lower than in the periodontal group. Within the medically–physically compromised group, the DI–S means of carriers and non–carriers were not significantly different. The data indicated no important relationship between oral hygiene and the prevalence of oral Group D streptococci in the groups studied.