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. 2013 Sep;6(3):178-82.
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1214. Epub 2013 Oct 14.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Endodontic Irrigants against Enterococcus Faecalis and Escherichia Coli: An in vitro study

Noopur Kaushik  1 , Usha Rehani  2 , Abhay Agarwal  3 , Mayur Kaushik  4 , Vivek Adlakha  5
Affiliations

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Endodontic Irrigants against Enterococcus Faecalis and Escherichia Coli: An in vitro study

Noopur Kaushik et al. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the relative antimicrobial efficacy of five different commonly used antimicrobial agents with regard to reduction in the number of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli as compared to normal saline. An agar disk diffusion in vitro method was used to test the efficacy of the root canal irrigants against these two microorganisms. The root canal irrigants used were: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 10% citric acid, 17% ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 0.2% cetrimide and normal saline (as control).

Materials and methods: The sample size consisted of 120 agar plates, divided into two groups: groups I and II. Group I consisted of 60 blood agar plates for assessment of E. faecalis and group II consisted of 60 MacConkey agar plates for assessment of E. coli. On each agar plate, 6 circular cellulose nitrate paper disks were placed, on which the inoculum of the respective microorganism was poured with a micropipette. After incubation, these paper disks were removed and put in test tubes containing the particular root canal irrigants, and were vortexed for 60 seconds.The microbial count was then assessed using a microbial colony counter.

Results: RESULTS showed that in the group I (E. faecalis), maximum reduction was achieved with cetrimide, followed by NaOCl, H2O2, citric acid and then EDTA. In group II (E. coli), maximum reduction was achieved with NaOCl, followed by cetrimide, H2O2, citric acid and then EDTA. How to cite this article: Kaushik N, Rehani U, Agarwal A, Kaushik M, Adlakha V. Antimicrobial Efficacy of Endodontic Irrigants against Enterococcus Faecalis and Escherichia Coli: An in vitro study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2013;6(2):178-182.

Keywords: Cetrimide; Enterococcus faecalis; Escherichia Coli; Root canal irrigants; Sodium hypochlorite.

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Conflict of interest statement

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None declared

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MacConkey's agar and blood agar plates
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sodium hypochlorite solution
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Citric acid, cetrimide and EDTA
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Sodium chloride solution
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Bacterial broth placed on cellulose nitrate paper
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Laminar flow cabinet
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Microbial colony counter
Graph 1
Graph 1
Comparative efficacy of reagents against E. faecalis
Graph 2
Graph 2
Comparative efficacy of reagents against E. coli
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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