Microbiological analysis of oral samples for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by nested polymerase chain reaction in tuberculosis patients with periodontitis

• Main Authors: Sunil Kumar Palakuru, Vandana K Lakshman, Kishore G Bhat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2012-01-01
• Series: Dental Research Journal
• Subjects: Dental plaque; nested PCR; periodontitis; saliva; tuberculosis
• Online Access: http://www.drjjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-3327;year=2012;volume=9;issue=6;spage=688;epage=693;aulast=Palakuru
• ISSN: 1735-3327; 2008-0255

Background: Due to high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in India, presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in oral samples might influence the periodontal status of patients and also might pose a risk of transmission of TB during dental procedures through aerosols. Hence, this study aims to compare the periodontal status between TB and non-TB patients and to detect the presence of M. tuberculosis in plaque and saliva of TB and non-TB patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 TB and 25 non-TB systemically healthy patients (age 21-49 years) were selected for this Clinico-Microbiological study. The oral hygiene and periodontal status of the patients were measured by using clinical indices and were compared using Mann-Whitney test ( P < 0.05 = Significant). Pooled plaque and unstimulated salivary samples were collected and subjected to microbiological evaluation of M. tuberculosis by nested polymerase chain reaction. The detection rates were compared using Chi-square test ( P < 0.001 = Highly significant). Results: No significant difference was observed in periodontal clinical parameters measured between the groups. M. tuberculosis was detected in 92% of saliva and 68% of plaque samples of tuberculosis group, and even in 12% of saliva samples in nontuberculosis group patients. Conclusion: The TB status of the patient did not influence the periodontal status. However, the presence of M. tuberculosis in plaque and saliva as detected in this study might pose a grave risk of transmission of the disease through aerosols during dental procedures.