Antimicrobial Efficacy of Octenidine Hydrochloride, Green Tea, Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorhexidine Gluconate as Retreatment Endodontic Irrigant Against E. faecalis, Candida & Mixed Culture – In-Vitro Study

BACKGROUND Sodium hypochlorite & chlorhexidine are usually employed as endodontic irrigants due to their antimicrobial properties, however, their cytotoxicity & allergenicity issues demand an equally effective but safer irrigant. The purpose of the study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of octenidine hydrochloride (OCT), green tea, sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine (CHX) at various concentrations against E. faecalis, C. albicans and its mixture. METHODS The study was conducted in Hitkarini Dental College, Jabalpur. Various concentrations of irrigants were prepared. Muller Hinton agar media plates were swabbed with the culture broth of E faecalis ATCC 29212, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 or a mixture of these. Five Whatman paper disks (6 mm), each loaded with experimental concentration of the irrigant, were placed at equal distance on to the plate. The plates were incubated at 370 C for 48 hours. This was done in 6 replicates. The plates were evaluated for clear zone of inhibition measured in mm. RESULTS The diameter readings were analysed using Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. There was a significant difference between the groups against Enterococcus faecalis; candida, & mixed culture (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS 5 % Sodium hypochlorite is better than all others whereas 2 % CHX is better than OCT & Green tea. 0.1 % OCT is better than 3 % Green tea. OCT can be used as a contributory irrigant along with NaOCl to achieve antimicrobial advantage. KEY WORDS Antimicrobial Efficacy, Candida Albicans, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, E Faecalis, Green Tea, Octenidine Hydrochloride, Sodium Hypochlorite