Abstract
Purpose
The prevalence of odontogenic infections remains one of the highest in the world. If untreated, odontogenic infections can break through the limitation, disseminate to other organs or spaces, and cause high mortality rates. However, it is still difficult to rapidly target limited or disseminated infections in clinical practice. The type of disseminated odontogenic infections and the responsible bacteria have not been described in detail.
Methods
Search databases (e.g., PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase) for reports published from 2018.1 to 2022.9. Use search strategies: (“odontogenic infections” OR “pulpitis” OR “periapical lesions” OR “periodontal diseases”) AND (“disseminated infections” OR “complication”).
Results
Fourteen different types of disseminated odontogenic infections, most of which are polymicrobial infections, can spread through the body either direct or through hematogenous diffusion. Multiple microbial infections can be more invasive in the transmission of infection. Secondary infections are commonly associated with bacteria like Fusobacterium spp., Streptococcus spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Prevotella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. Antibiotics with broad-spectrum activity are fundamental as first-line antimicrobial agents based on the microorganisms isolated from disseminated infections.
Conclusion
This review elaborates on the epidemiology, microorganisms, risk factors, and dissemination routes, and provides evidence-based opinions on the diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, and prevention of odontogenic infections for dentists and clinicians.
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Data availability
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within its supplementary material.
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Funding
This work was supported by the Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Foundation (Grant numbers 2021M010 and 2021M004), the Health Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (Grant numbers 2022KY1096), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant numbers 82001045).
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YL, ZS, and HM drafted the first and subsequent versions of the review. DC, MS, QW, JW, QZ, and RT searched the literature and managed the data. BY and YL conceived and designed the review. MY and HW revised it critically for important intellectual content.
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Lou, Y., Sun, Z., Ma, H. et al. Odontogenic infections in the antibiotic era: approach to diagnosis, management, and prevention. Infection 52, 301–311 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-023-02117-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-023-02117-5