It has been reported that the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of viridans streptococci vary according to geographical region. Although several studies on the antibiotic resistance of viridans streptococci in foreign countries have been reported, little is known about the distribution of resistance among viridans streptococci in Korea. In this study, 88 isolates of viridans streptococci from Korean students' dental plaque were identified as 12 different species. The susceptibility of these isolates to 8 antibiotics was investigated. The in vitro antibiotic activity of penicillin G, ampicillin, vancomycin, streptomycin, gentamicin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline was measured by the broth microdilution method. The range of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), MIC50, MIC90, and the percentage of the susceptible isolates were determined. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius were susceptible to the 8 antibiotics. Isolates with resistance to vancomycin, streptomycin, and amoxicillin were not found. The overall resistance rates of the 88 isolates to penicillin G, ampicillin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline were 12.5%, 62.5%, 62.5%, 26.1%, and 26.1%, respectively.

• Si Young Lee(Department of Oral Microbiology, College of Dentistry, Research Institute of Oral Science, Kangnung National University) Corresponding author
• Kyung Min Shin(Department of Oral Microbiology, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University)
• Son-Jin Choe(Department of Oral Microbiology, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University)