Optimization of Salivary Streptococcus mutans culture: A Technical Note.
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Introduction: Accurate quantification of S. mutans in Saliva serves as a critical biological determinant for assessing caries risk. This technical note details an optimized and standardized protocol for the selective isolation and quantification of S. mutans from stimulated salivary samples. Materials and Methods: Stimulated saliva was collected and subjected to serial dilution using sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin agar used to grow the bacteria under aerobic conditions. Results: The protocol yielded colonies with characteristic S. mutans blue to creamy white, granular "frosted glass" colonies, with strong adherence to the agar. The present protocol was found to be optimal for achieving countable plates and maintaining a homogeneous distribution, which is essential for a reliable colony count. Conclusion: By optimizing procedural variables like dilution factors and media preparation, this approach ensures reliable quantification suitable for clinical and epidemiological research.
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