Characterization of Actinomyces species isolated from failed dental implant fixtures

Characterization of Actinomyces species isolated from failed dental implant fixtures
Received 6 August 2003; revised 12 October 2004; accepted 8 January 2005. Available online 7 April 2005.
Nanna Sarkonena, , , Eija K??n??nena, b, Erkki Eerolac, Mauno K??n??nend, e, b, Hannele Jousimies-Somera, 1 and Pekka Laine
Anaerobe
ScienceDirect
aAnaerobe Reference Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, National Public Health Institute (KTL), Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
bFaculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait
cDepartment of Microbiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
dDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital
eDepartment of Stomatognathic Physiology and Prosthetic Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki
Abstract
In the oral cavity, Actinomyces form a fundamental component of the indigenous microflora, being among initial colonizers in polymicrobial biofilms. However, some differences may exist between different species in terms of their attachment not only to teeth but also to biomaterials. In this study we investigated the distribution of Actinomyces in 33 dental implant fixtures explanted from 17 patients. The identification was based on comprehensive biochemical testing and gasÇƒÏliquid chromatography and when needed, 16S rRNA sequencing. Actinomyces was the most prevalent bacterial genus in these failed implants, colonizing 31/33 (94%) of the fixtures. Proportions of Actinomyces growth of the total bacterial growth in the Actinomyces-positive fixtures varied from 0.01% up to 75%. A. odontolyticus was the most common Actinomyces finding, present in 26/31 (84%) Actinomyces-positive fixtures. Actinomyces naeslundii and A. viscosus were both detected in 10/31 (32%) and A. israelii in 7/31 (23%) fixtures. Other Actinomyces species, including A. georgiae, A. gerencseriae and A. graevenitzii, were detected less frequently. Our results suggest that Actinomyces species are frequent colonizers on failed implant surfaces, where A. odontolyticus was the far most prominent Actinomyces species.
Keywords: Actinomyces species; Bacterial colonization; Implant failure
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