Microbiological analysis of oral samples for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by nested polymerase chain reaction in tuberculosis patients with periodontitis

BACKGROUND: Due to high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in India, presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in oral samples might influence the periodontal status of patients and also might pose a risk of transmission of TB during dental procedures through aerosols. Hence, this study aims to compare the periodontal status between TB and non-TB patients and to detect the presence of M. tuberculosis in plaque and saliva of TB and non-TB patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 TB and 25 non-TB systemically healthy patients (age 21-49 years) were selected for this Clinico-Microbiological study. The oral hygiene and periodontal status of the patients were measured by using clinical indices and were compared using Mann–Whitney test (P < 0.05 = Significant). Pooled plaque and unstimulated salivary samples were collected and subjected to microbiological evaluation of M. tuberculosis by nested polymerase chain reaction. The detection rates were compared using Chi-square test (P < 0.001 = Highly significant). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in periodontal clinical parameters measured between the groups. M. tuberculosis was detected in 92% of saliva and 68% of plaque samples of tuberculosis group, and even in 12% of saliva samples in nontuberculosis group patients. CONCLUSION: The TB status of the patient did not influence the periodontal status. However, the presence of M. tuberculosis in plaque and saliva as detected in this study might pose a grave risk of transmission of the disease through aerosols during dental procedures.