Dental Root Canal Infections Caused by Enterococcus faecalis are Associated with Heart Valve Replacement Infections

Abstract

A common oral pathogen Enterococcus faecalis causes periodontitis and dental infections. Biofilms, gelatinase, lipoteichoic acid, cytolysin toxin, surface adhesions, and hyaluronic acid are key mechanisms of virulence for dental E. faecalis. Study aims to investigate the association between dental root canal infection with E. faecalis and heart valve replacement infections. It is also examined its susceptibility to antibiotics. A total of 120 samples were collected, 80 from patients with valve replacements suffering from dental caries and 40 from healthy individuals with dental caries only. 16 srRNA genes were used to identify E. faecalis and other species. A VITEK 2 system was used to test E. faecalis biochemical phenotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility. E. faecalis was the most prevalent species found in dental caries patients with valve replacements. E. faecalis isolates were 100% susceptible to ampicillin, while 66.6% to linolid and teicoplanin. E. faecalis strains are all resistant to vancomyin, but 33.3% to teicoplanin. Several infections related to heart valve replacement can be caused by the presence of E. faecalis in dental root canals.   An antibiotic such as ampicillin is recommended for the treatment of a dental root infection caused by E. faecalis.