Quantitative assessment of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in peri-implant health and disease: correlation with clinical parameters.

Introduction. Peri-implantitis poses a significant challenge in oral health due to its complex microbial profile and biofilm-related persistence, complicating both prevention and treatment strategies.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. We hypothesized that biofilm formation by Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis plays a critical role in peri-implantitis by inducing an inflammatory response, contributing to bone loss and implant failure. This study aimed to investigate the presence and quantify C. albicans, S. aureus and S. epidermidis in health and peri-implantitis using quantitative real-time PCR, enhancing our understanding of their roles in peri-implant disease.Aim: To explore the microbial burden of C. albicans, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis in peri-implantitis and healthy conditions, correlating these findings with clinical parameters.Methodology. In this cross-sectional study, 102 patients were recruited from the Department of Periodontology and Implant Biology at Aristotle University, Greece. Participants were divided into healthy/mucositis and peri-implantitis groups. Clinical parameters such as probing depth, clinical attachment levels and bleeding on probing were recorded, and microbiological samples were collected and analysed using real-time PCR, targeting specific genes for the pathogens.Results. Results showed that C. albicans was detected in 3.92 and S. aureus in 9.82% of samples, while S. epidermidis was present in all samples, with significantly higher loads in the peri-implantitis group (404.75 copies µl^-1) compared to the healthy/mucositis group (173.04 copies µl^-1, P<0.001). Higher concentrations of S. epidermidis correlated with increased probing depth, clinical attachment levels and bleeding on probing.Conclusions. The research strongly emphasizes the notable connection between S. epidermidis and peri-implantitis, indicating its potential impact on the development and progression of the condition. These findings underscore the significance of considering the quantity of S. epidermidis in clinical research aimed at effectively managing patients with peri-implant diseases.