Eikenella corrodens in Subgingival Plaque: Relationship to Age and Periodontal Condition.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of Eikenella corrodens (E. corrodens) in subgingival plaque in different age and periodontitis groups and to examine whether its presence is related to periodontal diseases. Methods: A total of 273 subgingival plaque samples from 213 periodontitis patients and 60 healthy subjects were assessed. Smears from each plaque sample were made and E. corrodens was detected by means of indirect immunofluorescent technique. Mean percentage of E. corrodens per total bacteria (distribution) was calculated in each sample. The prevalence (% of positive samples) and distribution of E. corrodens were statistically analyzed based on age or diagnosis by means of Fisher's exact test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Prevalence of E. corrodens decreased by age in the healthy control group; however, prevalence did not change in periodontitis groups. Distribution of E. corrodens was highest in juvenile periodontitis (JP) (2.3 ± 1.5%) followed by post-JP (1.7 ± 2.1%1, prepubertal periodontitis (1.4 ± 1.1%), rapidly progressive periodontitis (0.8 ± 0.7%), adult periodontitis (0.7 ± 0.6%), and healthy subjects (0.3 ± 0.3%) (ANOVA, P <0.0001). The <20-year-old age group with periodontitis showed the highest distribution of E. corrodens (2.2 ± 1.6%) compared to the older age groups who were either healthy or had periodontitis (ANOVA, P<0.0001). Conclusions: Since the distribution of E. corrodens is significantly higher in JP, post-JP, and PP, E. corrodens might play an important role in the occurrence or progression of periodontitis in young patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]