Sains Malaysiana 49(3)(2020): 583-591

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4903-13

 

The Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the Oral Cavity of Healthy Adults in Malaysia

(Kelaziman Staphylococcus aureus pada Kaviti Oral Dewasa Sihat di Malaysia)

 

AMIR HARRIZ AZMI1, SITI NOOR ADNALIZAWATI ADNAN2 & NORMALIZA AB MALIK1*

 

1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

2Department of Basic Sciences and Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

Received: 17 February 2019/Accepted: 6 December 2019

 

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the oral cavity of healthy adults and the factors that may influence the presence of the bacteria. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a number of selected healthy adults in a district in Malaysia, during which, information about their socio-demographic background and oral hygiene practices was obtained. Oral rinse samples of the respondents were also collected using phosphate buffered saline and the data obtained was subsequently analyzed using SPSS.  A total of 140 oral rinse samples were collected and the results of the analysis conducted showed a prevalence of approximately 40% of the Staphylococcus aureus in the oral cavity of the participants. There was no significant association observed between both the socio-demographic factor and oral hygiene practices with the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.  The use of prostheses was found to be a significant factor for a higher prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the oral cavity (OR 5.13; P<0.05, 95%CI 1.410 - 18.76). The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the oral cavity of healthy adults was high and the use of prostheses was a factor associated with the presence of the bacteria. This accentuates the importance of a good oral hygiene, as oral cavity can be the primary route for Staphylococcus aureus to cause potential systemic infections. 

 

Keywords: Adults; infection; oral cavity; oral health; Staphylococcus aureus

 

ABSTRAK

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti prevalen bakteria Staphylococcus aureus di dalam rongga mulut orang dewasa yang sihat dan faktor yang mungkin mempengaruhi kewujudan bakteria tersebut. Suatu kajian keratan lintang telah dijalankan ke atas sejumlah orang dewasa yang sihat di satu daerah di Malaysia dan semasa kajian tersebut, maklumat mengenai latar belakang sosio-demografi dan amalan-amalan penjagaan kebersihan mulut peserta telah diperoleh. Larutan bergaram tertimbal fosfat iaitu sampel air kumuran daripada peserta dikumpulkan dan data yang diperoleh seterusnya dianalisis menggunakan perisian SPSS.  Sebanyak 140 sampel dikumpul dan hasil kajian menunjukkan peratusan prevalen Staphylococcus aureus di dalam rongga mulut peserta setinggi 40%. Selain itu, didapati bahawa tidak wujud perkaitan signifikan antara kedua-dua faktor sosio-demografi dan amalan kebersihan mulut dengan kehadiran Staphylococcus aureus. Sementara itu, kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa protesis gigi ialah faktor penyumbang utama kepada peratusan tinggi prevalen Staphylococcus aureus di dalam rongga mulut (OR 5.13; P < 0.05, 95% CI 1.410 – 18.76). Prevalen Staphylococcus aureus di dalam rongga mulut orang dewasa yang sihat adalah tinggi dan prostesis gigi ialah faktor yang dikaitkan dengan kewujudan bakteria tersebut di dalam rongga mulut. Ini menegaskan lagi betapa pentingnya kebersihan mulut yang baik, kerana rongga mulut boleh menjadi laluan utama bagi Staphylococcus aureus yang akan menyebabkan kemungkinan berlakunya jangkitan sistemik.

 

Kata kunci: Dewasa; jangkitan; kesihatan mulut; rongga mulut; Staphylococcus aureus

 

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*Corresponding author; email: liza_amalik@usim.edu.my

 

 

 

 

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