[The passage of antibiotics into human ginigival fluid. A review of the literature].

Many antibiotics are utilized in dentistry, particularly in periodontology, to treat aggressive forms of periodontitis. In order to be efficient, both on a clinical and on a microbiological point of view, these substances must be present in sufficient concentrations in the gingival sulcus. The aim of the present literature review was to summarize studies concerning the passage of the various families of antibiotics into the gingival fluid, together with their spectrum and clinical efficacy. Whereas certain antibiotics, such as natural or semisynthetic tetracyclines or spiramycin, are able to accumulate in gingival fluid comparatively to serum, others, like metronidazole, tinidazole and rifampicin, have been found in similar concentrations in the fluid as in serum. Some other antibiotics, such as erythromycin and ampicillin, are, on the contrary, less concentrated in crevicular fluid as compared to blood. One has to remember that any systemic antibiotic treatment will be useful, clinically and microbiologically speaking, only when a mechanical therapy is also applied.