Bacterial resistance following subgingival and systemic administration of minocycline
The aim of the present study was to compare total numbers of cultivable bacteria and prevalence of resistance to minocycline among periodontal bacteria following subgingival or systemic application of minocycline in patients diagnosed with periodontal disease. Ten adult patients were administered 2% minocycline subgingivally into their periodontal pockets at baseline, week 2, and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. Patients had S/RP at baseline and month 6. Another 10 patients undergoing S/RP followed by a 10-day course of systemic minocycline therapy were studied and compared with the subgingival application group. Bacterial samples were taken and incubated aerobically and anaerobically. The results of this study indicate that subgingival application of minocycline ointment resulted in an initial reduction in the total number of cultivable bacteria, which then remain depressed during the full year. No such observation was made in the systemic administration. [E.L.H.]
Preus, H.R., J. Lassen, and S.G. Ciancio, J Clin Periodont, 22:380, 1995