Effects of propicillin on mixed continuous cultures of periodontal bacteria.

Experiments were designed to test the antibiotic (1-phenoxypropyl)penicillin (propicillin) against a complex microflora of periodontal bacteria. This was accomplished by using a continuously growing mixed culture that was obtained by enrichment of periodontal plaque in human serum. Peptostreptococcus species, Prevotella intermedia, Lactobacillus, catenaforme, and Streptococcus species were dominant members of the enrichment culture. None of the strains isolated from the enrichment culture exhibited detectable beta-lactamase activity. MICs of propicillin for the organisms ranged from 0.1 to 1.2 mg/liter. Propicillin was added to the cultures in single doses that were repeated once or twice at 24-h intervals, that is, after 2.4 volume changes of the culture vessel. Analyses done 24 h after the last addition of propicillin revealed that total cell counts of the culture were hardly affected by 1 mg of propicillin per liter, although some changes in the microbial composition occurred. The relative insusceptibility of the culture might be explained by the low growth rate. Higher concentrations (5, 10, and 50 mg/liter) of the antibiotic caused 10- to 20-fold drops in total cell counts. In these cultures P. intermedia was selectively suppressed to below the detection level, whereas other organisms that were equally susceptible to propicillin were less affected. It was concluded that mixed continuous cultures are a useful tool for studying the effects of antibiotics against the periodontal microbiota.