SEROTYPES AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS ISOLATED FROM DENTAL PLAQUES OF CHILDREN

치아우식아동과 그의 모친(母親)의 치태(齒苔)에서 분리(分離)한 Streptococcus mutans의 혈청형(血淸型) 분포(分布) 및 약제내성(藥劑耐性)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

A total of 141 strains of Streptococcus mutans were isolated from dental plaques of 153 subjects. Eighty-two children with caries-experience, 18 caries-free children and their mothers were participated. All isolates were examined for their serotypes by immunodiffusion method with 7 reference sera and their antibiotic susceptibilities to 7 antibiotics by agar dilution method using 7 kinds of antibiotics, and were compared their results by caries experience (DMFT ratio) and by intrafamilial levels. 1. Isolation rate of Streptococcus mutans were greater in samples of carious teeth than those of sound teeth, and in mothers than in children. 2. Multiple serotypes of Streptococcus mutans were occasionally found in a single samples. 3. Of the total 141 isolates (83 isolates from children, and 58 from their mothers), type c isolates were most prevalent (63.8%). Type d,e and f were found, comprizing 14.9%, 10.6% and 6.4% respectively. Serotype g, a and untypable strain were also found but far lower frequencies (2.8-0.7%), and type b was detected. 4. These results suggest that there are no significant correlation among the distribution of serotypes, antibiotic susceptibilities, caries experience and intrafamilial relationships. 5. Most of isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol (100%), penicillin (95.7%), ampicillin (94.3%), and gentamicin (92.2%), but about one-third isolates were resistant to cephaloridine (27%), streptomycin (33.3%) and kanamycin (47.6%), resulting that 91 strains (64.5%) among 141 isolates were resistant to one or more drugs used. 6. Of the 91 resistant strains, 20 different resistant patterns were observed, and the most frequently encountered patterns were KM, SM and CE.