E. Sauvetre et al., THE EFFECT OF CLINDAMYCIN GEL INSERT IN PERIODONTAL POCKETS, AS OBSERVED ON SMEARS AND CULTURES, Infection, 21(4), 1993, pp. 245-247
This study is aimed at the evaluation of a 1% clindamycin hydrochlorid
e containing gel on the microbial flora of periodontal pockets deeper
than 5 mm. In order to achieve that purpose, 20 patients with pocketin
g in the premolar-molar regions were selected. Active and placebo gel
were inserted once during the first 2 weeks of this experimental study
. Microbial samplings were performed 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the ex
periment started. The samples were submitted to microscopic examinatio
n and also to culture. Changes in the microbial content of the periodo
ntal pockets treated by subgingival scaling and clindamycin 1% gel wer
e significant, compared with those obtained with subgingival scaling a
nd placebo gel, particularly with respect to anaerobic black-pigmented
bacteria and the motile gram-negative flora. However, after 3 months,
most of the treated cases were recolonized by the same initial specie
s, though never at pre-clindamycin levels. In the light of this study,
it will be concluded that the use of a small amount of clindamycin hy
drochloride inserted into a periodontal pocket, once a week for 2 week
s as a complement to periodontal subgingival scaling, is beneficial in
the treatment of adult periodontitis, by eliminating more effectively
the microbial pocket colonization.