Comparative evaluation of efficacy of adjunctive use of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin with scaling and root planning and scaling & root planning alone in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a clinico microbiological study

Background and aims:The present study was envisaged to compare the efficacy of Adjunctive use of Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin with Scaling and Root Planning and Scaling & Root Planning alone in the treatment of Chronic Periodontitis. Materials and methods: Forty five subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomly selected and divided into three groups as follows. Group 1: scaling and root planning without any systemic antibiotics (SRPalone). Group 2: scaling and root planning with systematic administration of ciprofloxacin (SRP+CIPRO). Group 3: scaling and root planning alone with systemic administration of azithromycin (SRP+AZM). Periodontal parameters comprising of plaque index, bleeding index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level and microbiological parameters comprising of spirochete count and BANA test scores were assessed at base line and six weeks after completion of periodontal therapy for subjects in all the three groups. Results: The reduction in posttreatment scores as compared to pre-treatment scores of plaque index, bleeding index, pocket depth, clinical attachment levels and spirochete count was highly significant in all the groups (p<0.01). BANA hydrolysis is a reliable marker of periodontal disease as it has proved to be a suitable test for detection of spirochetes. Conclusion: The judicious use of systemic antibiotics in the treatment of chronic periodontitis may provide an additional benefit in the clinical outcome compared to SRP alone