Oral hygiene and the prevalence of oral group D streptococci in medically-physically compromised and periodontal disease patients.

The relationship between oral hygiene and oral Group D streptococcal carrier status was examined in two groups of dental clinic patients. Eighteen medically-physically compromised and 20 periodontitis patients were selected for study. Oral hygiene status was assessed and the prevalence of oral Group D streptococci was determined by sampling the oral cavity with a vigorous 15 second rinse with 5 ml peptone-saline solution. Three ml of each sample was cultured at 40 degrees C in 30 ml of SF broth for 72 hours. Esculin fermenting colonies isolated from the SF broth were characterized biochemically according to standardized procedures and patients were classified as either carriers or non-carriers. Group D streptococci were detected in 27.8% of the medically-physically compromised group and 4.5% of the periodontal disease patients. The mean DI-S score of the medically-physically compromised group was significantly lower than in the periodontal group. Within the medically-physically compromised group, the DI-S means of carriers and non-carriers were not significantly different. The data indicated no important relationship between oral hygiene and the prevalence of oral Group D streptococci in the groups studied.