Prevotella intermedia: Update on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatments

Abstract

Introduction: Prevotella intermedia is a recognized periodontopathogenic bacterium associated with systemic diseases. Understanding its role in disease processes enables improved diagnosis, enhances treatment success, and contributes to better patient prognosis. Objective: This systematic review evaluates the available evidence on Prevotella intermedia, focusing on its prevalence, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and systemic and oral manifestations. Methodology: Data were extracted from the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, prioritizing articles published within the last three years (2022-2024). The search included keywords such as "Prevotella intermedia”, "prevalence”, "diagnosis”, and "oral manifestations”. Results: P. intermedia is one of the most prevalent microorganisms in the microbial composition of dental plaque and periodontal disease and is considered a potential biomarker for diagnosis by DNA profiling using individual microbial profiles such as rRNA gene sequencing and transcriptomic analysis. Therapeutics include in addition to traditional treatments, the use of zinc, probiotics and laser as alternative therapy. The manifestations are positively related to periodontopathic proinflammatory reaction, bleeding rate and changes in the oral microbiota associated with tumor tissue and gastrointestinal cancers. Conclusions: the presence of intermediate prevotellla in the subgingival plaque is a decisive risk indicator in periodontal disease, besides being associated with other oral and systemic conditions, it is a potential marker of effective diagnosis in prevention and particular treatment that allows counteracting its pathogenicity.