Role of periodontitis in hospital-acquired pneumonia

This study evaluated the role of periodontal pathogens in 50 hospitalized patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia compared with 30 healthy controls. Specimens of oropharyngeal aspirate, dental plaque, bronchoalveolar lavage and blood cultured 1 or more pathogens in around 80% of patients, predominately Staphylococcus aureus, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns showed concordance of bacterial cultures from dental plaque and oropharyngeal cavity in 13 patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls and there was a significant correlation between serum and salivary CRP levels. Dental plaque biofilm may promote oral and oropharyngeal colonization of respiratory pathogens in hospitalized subjects.