I'm not that up on specific studies looking at
microflora of infected cavities, but I would
imagine that neither Streptococcus mutans nor
S. pyogenes are typically major players in
infected cavities. My guess would be that most
infected cavities are polymicrobial infections
with the predominant organisms being obligate
anaerobes such as Porphyromonas, Prevotella,
Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, and
Peptostreptococcus species. Certainly some
viridans strep like S. mutans would probably
come along for the ride as well, but not as the
main organism doing the dirty deed.
-----------------------------------------------------
Alan D. Junkins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC 29425
(803) 792-3169
Fax: (803) 792-3383
E-mail: junkinsa at musc.edu
