TABLE 73.2.
Bacterial Infections which May Have Implications on Oral Health
| Infecting Organism | Main Features | Orofacial Lesions |
|---|---|---|
| Treponema pallidum | Bejel | Mucous patches/sores in the mouth, destruction of palate in late stages |
| Treponema pallidum carateum | Pinta | Flattened, red, itchy patches on the face |
| Treponema pallidum | Yaws | Soft nodules on the face, which may ulcerate, destructive, disfiguring growths (gangosa), especially around the nose, mouth, and palate |
| Klebsiella granulomatis | Granuloma inguinale | Secondary to genital lesions, chronic, granulomatous ulceration in the oral cavity |
| Chlamydia trachomatis | Lymphogranuloma venereum | |
| Bacillus anthracis | Anthrax | Painful or ulcerated swellings mainly on palate |
| Brucella, melitensis, suis and abortus | Brucellosis | Rare infections or cranial nerve palsies |
| Clostridium botulinum | Botulism | Xerostomia, parotitis, muscle weakness |
| Clostridium perfringens (Cl. welchii), Cl. sporogenes, Cl. oedematiens, Cl. septicum | Gas gangrene | Gas gangrene |
| Escherichia coli | Enteric infections mainly Also urinary tract, wound, and other infection |
Found in some oral infections, especially in denture-wearers and immunocompromised |
| Francisella tularensis | Tularaemia | Pharyngitis Stomatitis (often ulcerative) Faucial membrane Cervical lymphadenopathy |
| Mycobacterium leprae | Leprosy | In lepromatous leprosy, yellow-red, soft to hard, sessile lesions that ulcerate and heal to form fibrous scars, seen on gingiva, palate and tongue |
| Mycoplasma hominis and pneumoniae | Pneumonia | Rare infections or cranial nerve palsies? Reiter's syndrome |
| Neisseria meningitidis | Meningitis Septicaemia |
Petechiae Occasionally: herpes labialis Facial palsy |
| Nocardia asteroides, brasiliensis and caviae | Nocardiosis | Ulceration Cheek or gingivae |
| Proteus vulgaris | Occasional infections | |
| Pseudomonas mallei | Glanders (acute pneumonia) | Ulceration from nasal glanders Ulcers |
| Pseudomonas pseudomallei | Melioidosis (lung or other localized infections or septicaemia) | Oral abscesses, or other infections Parotitis |
| Rickettsia ricketssiae | Rocky mountain spotted fever | Faucial gangrene |
| Rickettsia akari | Rickettsialpox | Vesicles |
| Salmonellae typhi, paratyphi, choleraesuis and enteritidis | Typhoid and paratyphoid fever | Occasional infections |