Enterococcus spp. isolated from root canals with persistent chronic apical periodontitis in a Chilean population

Abstract

Aim: To isolate and identify in a Chilean population, Enterococcus spp. from root canals with persistent chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) and to investigate the potential correlation between the bacteria and the observed clinical features. Methods: Twenty patients with indication for endodontic retreatment due to persistent CAP were selected. Data from patient general health and dental clinical history were recorded. During retreatment, a microbial sample was obtained from the root canal and inoculated in a selective Enterococcus medium. Using bacterial cultivation methods, bacterial isolates belonging to the genus Enterococcus were identified. The relationship between the number of colony-forming units of Enterococcus spp. and patient clinical data was assessed statistically by the Pearson Chi square and Fisher exact tests. Finally, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay to determine the most prevalent species of Enterococcus spp. was conducted in the clinical samples, and the results were analyzed by a proportion comparison test. Results: Enterococcus spp. strains were isolated in 70% of the patients. Most of them (98.8%) accounted for Enterococcus faecalis and only 1.2% for Enterococcus faecium. A high frequency of E. faecalis was found in teeth with inadequate endodontic treatment or dental crown restorations. Conclusions: This study concluded that E. faecalis is prevalent in root canals with persistent CAP in a Chilean population. E. faecium as found in a single case with the poorest root canal filling. Further studies are still required to investigate the presence of other species, which may be linked to persistent chronic apical periodontitis.

Nematode-Associated Bacteria: Production of Antimicrobial Agent as a Presumptive Nominee for Curing Endodontic Infections Caused by Enterococcus faecalis

“…In dentistry, E. faecalis is linked to persistent periradicular lesions with major endodontic infections and persistent infections of the root canal (Sanchez-Sanhueza et al, 2015). Eradication of E. faecalis is challenging because it creates a biofilm, utilizes diverse compounds as energy sources, and survives extreme environmental conditions (Gilmore et al, 2002; Tendolkar et al, 2003).…”

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Chitosan Nano-Particles on Biofilm Eradication in Single Rooted Teeth Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope: A Comparative In-vitro Study

“…Irrigation type (Mean±SD) tent periapical periodontitis [13]. E. faecalis strain ATCC 29212 was chosen due to its ability to adhere, aggregate and grow to form a biofilm, thus improving its survival potential and rendering it more resistant to anti-microbial agents [14].…”

Benefits and Challenges of the Use of Two Novel vB_Efa29212_2e and vB_Efa29212_3e Bacteriophages in Biocontrol of the Root Canal Enterococcus faecalis Infections

“…A thorough chemo-mechanical cleaning and shaping of root canals reduces the primary bacterial load by 95% [ 8 ], giving a suspected high success rate of the endodontic therapy. Unfortunately, the remaining viable bacteria together with possible changes in the microenvironment with time create favorable conditions for secondary or refractory endodontic infections [ 9 ] and may lead to the development of refractory inflammatory periapical lesions [ 8 ]. Regrowth of microorganisms in cases of insufficient root canal treatment may lead to recolonization of the endodontic space [ 10 ].…”

“…Numerous studies demonstrate that E. faecalis is the most frequently recovered species from teeth with persistent infections, resistant to conventional therapeutic procedures, persisting and multiplying in the root canal space [ 9 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 ]. In failed endodontic treatments, local changes in root canal milieu predispose the higher prevalence of E. faecalis .…”