Background and aims: Enterococci are increasingly associated with nosocomial and opportunistic infections in humans. The role of the oral cavity as a reservoir for this species is unclear, particularly in the presence of oral infection. This study investigated the prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis in subgingival biofilm and saliva of patients with periodontal disease.
Methods: Samples were obtained from 56 periodontally healthy and 169 chronic periodontitis subjects. DNA was extracted from the samples and detection of E. faecalis was carried out by polymerase chain reaction.
Results: In general, E. faecalis was detected in 34.9% of all samples evaluated. No significant difference in the prevalence of this species between subgingival biofilm (34.6%) and saliva (35.1%) samples was observed. E. faecalis was detected significantly more often in saliva and subgingival samples of periodontitis patients (40.5% and 47.8%, respectively) compared to controls (14.6% and 17.1%, respectively; p<0.05). Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between the presence of E. faecalis and clinical parameters of probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing and plaque accumulation (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The present data showed that E. faecalis is frequently detected in the oral microbiota of periodontitis patients suggesting that periodontal infection may favour the colonization by this species. Close attention should be given to these patients regarding the risk for development of E. faecalis infection in other sites of the body.