Antimicrobial Activity and Synergistic Effect of Some Antibiotics and Nanoparticles Against Gram-Positive Bacterial Isolates Isolated from the Mouth of Dental Caries Patients
Abstract
Tooth decay is a common disease that occurs as a result of the erosion of tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria when they feed on sugars. This leads to the formation of cavities, and the damage may extend to the tooth nerve if treatment is neglected. Tooth decay causes varying levels of pain and sensitivity, in addition to unpleasant breath, and the condition may develop into infections and abscesses. The impact of tooth decay is not limited to oral health; it can also negatively affect overall body health. Oral infections may influence heart health, exacerbate complications for diabetic patients, and weaken the body's immune system. Furthermore, it can lead to difficulties in chewing and speaking, as well as impacting an individual’s psychological well-being. "The samples included both genders across various age groups, ranging from 10 to 45 years. Appropriate microscopic, cultural, and biochemical tests were performed. Out of the total, 230 samples (92%) showed positive growth. The isolates included Gram-positive species, distributed as follows: Strep. mutans (120 isolates, 52.17%), Staph. aureus (70 isolates, 30.43%), and Strep. pyogenes (40 isolates, 17.40%). The susceptibility of these bacterial isolates was tested against three types of antibiotics: Metronidazole, Clindamycin, and Amoxicillin. The results indicated that Staph. aureus isolates exhibited resistance to all the antibiotics studied. As for the Streptococcus isolates, they showed varying responses to the antibiotics depending on the species studied. Strep pyogenes exhibited a varied response to two antibiotics, Clindamycin and Amoxicillin, with inhibition zones of 22mm and 28mm respectively, while Metronidazole showed no effect. On the other hand, the Strep. mutans species demonstrated a varied response toward all the tested antibiotics with better overall results. Additionally, the susceptibility of the isolates was tested against three types of synthesized nanomaterials—Zinc (Zn), Silver (Ag), and Titanium (Ti)—at concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100% μg/ml. The results showed that Zinc and Titanium nanoparticles acted as effective antibacterial agents with varying rates. In contrast, none of the isolates showed any response to the Silver nanomaterials. Subsequently, a synergistic test was conducted by combining the nanomaterials, which yielded superior results compared to their individual use.