Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria Detected from the Root Canal Infection (Before and After) Root-Filled Teeth: An in Vitro Study

The aim of the study was to investigate the bacterial species from root canal infection (before and after) filled teeth and evaluate susceptibility to antibiotics, antimicrobial agents and plant extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale).Thirty-three adult patients with symptoms of root canal infection was receiving at the outpatient clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, 2014, diagnosed by a physician participated in the study. Fortyfive bacterial samples were taken from root canals infection, 33 before and 12 after filled teeth. A total 126 bacterial isolates were isolated and identify from this samples. The predominant bacterial isolates were found Enterococcus faecalis 15%, followed by Streptococcus mutans 9.5%, Streptococcus acidominimus 8.7% and Porphyromonas gingivalis 7.93%. The bacterial isolates highly sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, vancomycin and erythromycin. About 36.50 % of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline. More than 50 % of all isolates were resistant to metronidazole. The sensitivity of bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents revealed that sensitive 87.30% to potassium iodide 2.0 %, 73.01 % to calcium hydroxide 2 %, 69 % to chlorxidine 1% and 54% to sodium hypochlorite 0.5%. The in vitro antibacterial activity of Zingiber officinale was studied against bacterial isolates. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Zingiber officinale exhibited antibacterial activity against all bacterial isolates with MIC ranged from 0.5 to 1.3 mg/ml and 0.3 to 1.0 mg/ml respectively. In conclusions, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and vancomycin most potent antibiotics and potassium iodide 2% most antimicrobial agents against bacterial isolates. Zingiber officinale extract has potential antimicrobial action against bacterial