Molecular analysis of bacterial flora associated with chronically inflamed maxillary sinuses

Abstract

Chronic maxillary sinusitis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the role of microbial infection remains undefined. Bacteria have been isolated from chronically inflamed sinuses; however, their role in the chronicity of inflammation is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether bacteria are present in clinical samples from chronic maxillary sinusitis and to assess the diversity of the flora present. Washes and/or tissue samples from endoscopic sinus surgery on 11 patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis were subjected to PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA using three universal primer pairs, followed by cloning and sequencing. The samples were also assessed for the presence of bacteria and fungi by conventional culture methods. Viable bacteria and/or bacterial 16S rDNA were detected from maxillary sinus samples of five of the 11 patients examined (45 %). Three sinus samples were positive by both PCR and culture methods, one was positive only by PCR, and one only by culture. Thirteen bacterial species were identified: Abiotrophia defectiva, Enterococcus avium, Eubacterium sp., Granulicatella elegans, Neisseria sp., Prevotella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mitis/Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus sp. Fungi were not detected. In one patient Streptococcus mitis/Streptococcus oralis, and in another patient Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were detected from both the sinus and the oral cavity using species-specific PCR primers. These results suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria can be detected in nearly half of chronic maxillary sinusitis cases.

Loss of Bacterial Diversity during Antibiotic Treatment of Intubated Patients Colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…Over half (55%) of the sequences obtained were from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (9.7%), Prevotella spp. (6,10,27,39). These results support the hypothesis that oral, nasal, and gastrointestinal tract microbiota are the major reservoirs for bacteria that colonize the lower airway in intubated patients (17,40,41).…”

Molecular Analysis of Persistent Periradicular Lesions and Root Ends Reveals a Diverse Microbial Profile

“…Members of the genera Abiotrophia and Neisseria have been identified as normal inhabitants of the oral cavity and chronically inflamed maxillary sinuses (33). As mentioned previously, many of the samples were from maxillary posterior teeth; however, because the samples were deidentified from the source, it was not possible to make direct comparisons between tooth location and bacterial profile.…”

“…This was a surprising finding because B. cepacia has not been previously implicated in the etiology of endodontic infections. However, B. cepacia has been found in polymicrobial complexes associated with chronic maxillary sinusitis (33). A Methanobrevibacter oralis, which belongs to the domain Archaea, was identified both in the root ends and periradicular soft tissue of a single subject.…”

Heritability of Oral Microbial Species in Caries-Active and Caries-Free Twins

“…are reported to be associated with extra-oral infections but do not seem to pose a threat to the dental tissues (Gimigliano et al, 2005). A. defectiva is also associated with extraoral infections and its role in dental caries or health remains unknown (Paju et al, 2004). Eubacterium sp.…”