Resumen de Streptococci mutans: Método semi- cuantitativo para establecer el rango de riesgo de infección bucal en niños preescolares chilenos
Alfredo G. Linossier, Álex Vargas D., Gisella Zillmann Gerdts, Moisés Arriagada R, Robinson Rojas A, Rodrigo Villegas R
Background: Salivary infection due to Streptococci mutans is considered the main microbiological risk factor for the initiation of dental caries. Aim: To evaluate a semi-quantitative method to assess Streptococci mutans salivary infection and compare it with the existing quantitative method. Patient and methods: Saliva samples were obtained from 650 pre-school children aged 2 to 6 years old using a TYCSB liquid medium for counting Streptococci mutans. Results were compared with quantitative cultures. Results: There was a 99.3% linear correlation coefficient between both methods. The correlation coefficients with dental caries prevalence were 97% for the semi quantitative method and 90% for the quantitative method. Conclusions: The semi-quantitative method to assess oral infection with Streptococci mutans, is accurate enough to be used in population studies and oral infection prevention programs in developing countries (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 412-8).
