Metal‐ion susceptibility of oral bacterial species

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 324 - 328
• Main Authors: Youravong, N, Carlen, A, Teanpaisan, R, Dahlén, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2011
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; antimicrobial effect; Bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; Child; Child, Preschool; Dentistry; drug effects; environmental exposure; Ferrous Compounds; Ferrous Compounds - pharmacology; ferrous sulfate; Humans; Lead; lead (Pb(II)); Lead - toxicity; lead acetate; metal; Metals; Metals - pharmacology; microbial growth; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; microbiology; minimum inhibitory concentration; Odontologi; oral bacteria; Organometallic Compounds; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacology; pharmacology; Preschool; Silver Nitrate; Silver Nitrate - pharmacology; Tooth; Tooth - drug effects; Tooth - microbiology; toxicity
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2011.03110.x

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lead (Pb) on growth of bacterial species related to dental diseases in vitro. Methods and Results: The effects of lead acetate on representative species of the oral flora were examined at 0·1–10 mmol l−1 and compared with the effect of silver nitrate and ferrous sulfate. The minimal inhibitory concentration of lead acetate was between 0·15 and 5 mmol l−1 for the bacterial strains tested. The minimal bactericidal concentration of lead acetate for most oral species was detected in the range of 5–10 mmol l−1. Silver nitrate at a concentration of 1·25 mmol l−1 was sufficient to exhibit antibacterial activity against almost all bacteria tested. Ferrous sulfate had the lowest effect. Conclusions: The study indicated a general antimicrobial effect of lead on oral bacterial species in the range of 0·15–10 mmol l−1. The toxicity of silver nitrate was the highest, whereas that of ferrous sulfate was the lowest. Gram‐positive species had a tendency to be less susceptible for metals than Gram‐negatives. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study shows that it is possible that microbiological changes may occur in the dental plaque in children because of toxic exposure of environmental lead.