BACTERIOLOGY OF DENTOALVEOLAR ABSCESSES IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVEDEMPIRICAL ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY

We investigated aspirates of pus from dentoalveolar abscesses in 13 pa tients who had received empirical antibiotic therapy within 1 month be fore presentation at our facility. The antibiotics administered were l incomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, or a cephalosporin. Information on antibiotic therapy was obtained from the patients' medical histories. Cultures of all dentoalveolar abscesses yielded organisms. A total of 70 isolates (42 anaerobes and 28 facultative organisms) were recovere d, representing 5.3 isolates (3.2 anaerobes and 2.1 facultative organi sms) per specimen. The counts of bacteria ranged from 5x10(7) cfu/ml t o 8x10(11) cfu/mL (mean count, 1.4x10(11) cfu/mL; median count, 2.3x10 (10) cfu/mL). The predominant isolates were Prevotella species (25.7% of isolates), Peptostreptococcus species (17.1%), and Streptococcus sp ecies (14.2%). This study illustrates the polymicrobial nature of dent oalveolar abscesses as well as the predominant role played by anaerobi c bacteria.