Comparison of Antimicrobial Activity of Triple, Double, and Cefixime-Based Antibiotic Pastes Against Enterococcus Faecalis: An In Vitro Study

Aim: This in vitro study aims to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of triple antibiotic paste, double antibiotic paste, and cefixime-based triple antibiotic paste against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and methods: Fifty single-rooted, caries-free, permanent teeth without any developmental defects were included in this study. The specimens were divided into five groups, with each group consisting of 10 teeth that received a specific medicament. The groups were as follows: Group I: control; Group II: calcium hydroxide; Group III: triple antibiotic paste; Group IV: double antibiotic paste; and Group V: cefixime-based triple antibiotic paste. The antimicrobial activity of the medicaments was assessed against E. faecalis at the end of the seventh( )and 14(th )days. The colony-forming units (CFU) were calculated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Wilcoxon tests. Results: After seven days of the experimental process, it was observed that the CFU count was highest in group I and lowest in group V. In a similar vein, after 14 days, the maximum decrease in CFU count was observed in Group V, while the least reduction in CFU count was observed in Group II. On intergroup comparison, it was found that the maximum decrease in CFU was noted in Group V, followed by Group IV, Group III, and Group II. Conclusion: The study results indicated that the cefixime-enriched antibiotic paste had the greatest antimicrobial effectiveness, while the double and triple antibiotic pastes offered superior antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis at the end of the seventh and 14(th) days.