Microbiological Study of HIV‐Related Periodontitis

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Abstract
The subgingival microbiota in 14 persons with HIV-periodontitis was examined. Subgingival plaque samples were collected with paper points, transported in VMGA III, and plated on anaerobic enriched brucella blood agar and various selective media. HIVperiodontitis sites revealed Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Wolinella recta, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Bacteroides intermedias, each averaging 7% to 16% of the cultivable subgingival flora in positive patients. High levels of spirochetes also were detected in diseased sites with phase-contrast microscopy. Low levels of Candida albicans or enteric Gram-negative rods were recovered in the subgingival flora in 7 HIVperiodontitis patients or Bacteroides fragilis, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Fusobacterium varium, and Eubacterium aerofaciens were recovered in 8 patients. These findings suggest that the major components of the subgingival microbial flora in HIV-periodontitis are similar to those associated with adult periodontitis in systemically healthy persons. However, HIV-periodontitis lesions also may contain organisms which are rarely found in common types of periodontitis. The etiological significance of specific periodontal organisms in HIV-periodontitis awaits further longitudinal study. J Periodontol 1991;62:74– 81.