1Ph. D. Scholar,
2Assistant Professor,
3Assistant Professor (Research),
4Professor & Head,
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Devi Prasad Mandal Ph. D. Scholar,
Antibiogram and evaluation of the saliva-check mutans (SCM) kit was done to ascertain the presence of Streptococcus mutans in saliva samples as a rapid method. It was further compared with conventional methods of microbial diagnosis followed with confirmation with agglutination latex kit.
Saliva was collected from all patients under all precautionary aseptic was cultured on Sheep blood agar plates were subjected to incubation for the growth of S. mutans. The colony estimation was followed by estimation with agglutination latex kit-D. SCM kit (rapid method) was used chair side to quantify S. mutans. The cultures were subjected antibiotic sensitivity test based on Kirby-Bauer's method
Rapid method yielded positive (p<0.001) results for individuals having 3 or more carious teeth and poor oral hygiene. Significant correlation was seen between latex agglutination kit examination and rapid kit experiment. The S. mutans strains were highly resistant to gentamicin whereas they were susceptible to vancomycin.
The SCM kit was found to be more accurate than conventional methods. The conventional method was more time consuming and required more proficient observations in comparison to the rapid method; however, it was economical than the rapid method. More clinical trials are required to establish the social benefits of rapid method.
Streptococcus mutans, Dental caries, Antibiotic sensitivity test, Agglutination latex kit-D, Saliva-Check Mutans kit