Identification, and susceptibility to seven antimicrobial agents, of 61 gram-negative anaerobic rods from periodontal pockets

Sixty-one cultures of Gram-negative anaerobic rods were isolated from deep periodontal pockets of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. Isolates were speciated as Bacteroides gingivalis (18 isolates), Bacteroides intermedius (8),Bacteroides oris (1), Bacteroidesgracilis (17) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (17). Their susceptibilities, to seven antimicrobial agents, were determined in vitro using a plate dilution technique. Amoxycillin and amoxycillin with clavulanic acid were active against all isolates (MIC < 1 mg/1) and proved the most effective agents tested. F. nucleatum and B. gracilis showed resistance to erythromycin; F. nucleatum had MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/l up to 128 mg/l when tested with this, least effective, agent. Metronidazole was effective against all isolates except for a few strains of B. gracilis (MIC < 4 mg/1). Tetracycline hydrochloride and minocycline were active against all isolates except for a few strains of B. gracilis (MIC < 2 mg/1 with both minocycline and tetracycline hydrochloride). Penicillin proved less effective than amoxycillin with regard to inhibition of B. gracilis.