HIGH-INCIDENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS FROM DENTURES AND TONGUES OF MAXILLARY RESECTION PATIENTS

The incidence and virulence of Staphylococcus aureus from upper dentur es and tongues of maxillary resection and edentulous patients were exa mined. The incidence rates of S. aureus on dentures and tongues from t he 8 maxillary resection patients were significantly higher than those from the 20 maxillary edentulous patients. Some S. aureus strains in both patient groups were resistant to antibiotics, and 1 methicillin-r esistant S. aureus strain was isolated in each group. Exfoliative toxi n was not produced, whereas diverse types of enterotoxin were detected in 4 of the 8 maxillary resection patients and in 3 of 13 maxillary e dentulous patients. These findings show that S. aureus inhabits dentur es and tongues of maxillary resection patients more often than those o f maxillary edentulous patients and that some strains have potential v irulence, suggesting that maxillary resection patients are potentially more exposed to a threat from S. aureus and would be the carriers.