Authors : G.A. Scardina , A. Ruggieri , F. Carini and P. Messina
Abstract: Antimicrobial therapy has an essential role in the management of the oro-facial infections of odontogenic origin. The aim of this study is to report a detailed review about the activity of the -lactams in the odontostomatological practice. This group of antibiotics is very used in daily practice of dentistry for the prophilaxis and for the aspecific or specific therapy. The etiology of odontogenic infections is usually attributed to the endogenous flora of the mouth and not to the introduction of non-resident bacteria. This infections are typically polymicrobial; however, anaerobes generally outnumber aerobes by at least four fold. B-lactams are a large group of antibiotics in constant evolution, in fact, it includes penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems and monobactams. Penicillins are the oldest group of antibiotics, they are very diffused in the dentistry clinic but they hears again a lot the problem of the bacterial resistance. Cephalosporins is also more diffused and their new generations are deserving of attention. Carbapenems and monobactams are molecules relatively new but in constant evolution and they represent a possible future of antibiotics therapy.
G.A. Scardina , A. Ruggieri , F. Carini and P. Messina , 2007. B-Lactam Antibiotics in Daily Dentistry Practice: A Critical Review. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 484-490.