Oral Microbes Show Widespread Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Prompting Call for Precision Prescribing in Dentistry
A recent review published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine highlights the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in oral microbes, particularly in individuals with gum disease. The review, which synthesizes decades of evidence on antimicrobial resistance in periodontal disease, concludes that current empirical antibiotic prescribing practices in dentistry are accelerating this problem. Dentists are responsible for approximately 10% of antibiotic prescriptions globally, contributing significantly to the development of resistance. The study notes a concerning trend in the U.S., with a 20-year surveillance of 2,193 periodontitis patients showing a fivefold increase in clindamycin-resistant P. gingivalis and a 28-fold increase in amoxicillin resistance between 2019 and 2020 compared to 1999-2000. The review advocates for a fundamental shift towards precision prescribing, based on mapping the full collection of resistance genes in the mouth, known as the periodontal resistome.
