In vitro antibacterial effect of different irrigating solutions on Enterococcus faecalis.

Was evaluated the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the antibacterial effect (AE) of 2.5% NaOCl, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and 17% EDTA on Enterococcus faecalis. The antibacterial capacity was assessed by difusion in agar. The AE was evaluated on contaminated root dentin, employing apical and middle portions of human roots, sterilized and contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis, immersed in the irrigation solutions and incubated at 37 degrees C. Viable cells were counted at 0, 4, 8 and 24 hours. MIC: NaOCl and CHX: 0.2%, EDTA below 5%. Diffusion in agar: NaOCl 2.5% = 21 mm. CHX 0.2% = 14 mm. EDTA 17% = 20 mm. Effect on root dentin: NaOCl 2.5%: Enterococcus faecalis was totally inhibited for 24 hours in the apical area, and for 8 hours in the middle area. CHX 0.2% elicited a reduction of more than 5 log CFU and EDTA 17% induced a reduction of more than 3 log CFU at all the time points examined in the apical and middle areas.