Antimicrobial activity of root canal irrigants against biofilm forming pathogens- An in vitro study

AIMS: The aim of the study was to check the antimicrobial activity of the 5% Sodium hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine, 0.10% Octenidine (OCT), and 2% Silver Zeolite (SZ) at different time intervals against a single species biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans model prepared on a nitrocellulose membrane. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In vitro nitrocellulose biofilm model was used to check antibacterial efficacy of root canal irrigants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro nitrocellulose biofilm model was used to check the antibacterial activity of root canal irrigants. Single species biofilms were suspended into 96-well microtiter plate and treated with root canal irrigants for 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 s, respectively. The remaining microbial load in the form of colony-forming unit/ml after antimicrobial treatment was tabulated and data were statistically analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS version 17, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Wilcoxon matched pair test (P < 0.05) were used. RESULTS: All tested microorganisms were eliminated within 30 s by all the antimicrobial substances tested except normal saline. 2% chlorhexidine and 0.10% OCT were equally effective against C. albicans at 30 s. CONCLUSION: The newly tested irrigants have shown considerable antibacterial activity against selected single species biofilm. OCT (0.10%) can be used as an alternative endodontic irrigant.