Oral antiseptics in the oral source bacteremia control

Abstract

Currently held scientific knowledge provides us clear evidences of bacteriemia caused by oral tissue manipulation procedures and the consequent risk of infectious endocarditis. As more evidence emerges that periodontal disease may stand as a significant risk factor for the development of some systemic disease as well as of cardiovascular disease, it has been assessed that some systemic conditions may be initiated or predisposed by repeated entry of bacteria into the blood system. The use of systemic antibiotics is the traditionally recommended method for controlling bacteriemia of oral origin. However, the overall effectiveness of antibiotics can be argued, since in what refers to health safety, their use leads to unwanted side effects. The significant impact of mechanical and chemical control over the level of microorganisms in the supragingival plaque is also well-established in the literature for the control of gingival inflammation. Relying on such well-documented properties of periodontal therapy, some authors advise the use of supplementary methods like the delivery of antimicrobial agents onto the gingival margin aiming at mitigating the number or viable microorganisms to enter the blood flow. As some recent studies suggest that systemic antibiotics do not avoid infectious endocarditis caused by oral manipulation, in all the cases, the addition of oral topical medication aiming at mitigating the number or viable microorganisms to enter the blood flow may prove to be an important supplementary method. The purpose of this study was to assess the works published about bacteriemia of oral origin and its prevention by using mouth washes.