Case Study Against Enterococcus Faecalis

Antibacterial activity of allopathic medicine versus phytomedicine against Enterococcus faecalis: An in-vitro study. Abstract
Background: A successful endodontic treatment depends on appropriate instrumentation, irrigation, decontamination and obturation. Decontamination of root canal plays a crucial role in the success of endodontic treatment. Therefore, a suitable medicament is essential which can effectively eliminate bacterial contamination.
Aim and objectives: To investigate and compare the antibacterial property of 2% povidone iodine, 10% Curcumin longa, 50% Syzygium cumini, GAM (Gentamycin, amoxicillin and metronidazole) antibiotic, chitosan and GAM-chitosan combination against Enterococcus fecalis, and to analyse the sustained release
longa, 50% S. cumini and 1.25% GAM are shown in Table 1. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test. 1.25% GAM-antibiotic demonstrated strongest antimicrobial action, producing the largest zones of inhibition when compared with other medicaments.
Comparison of antibacterial activity across the group was done using Turkey’s multiple comparison test analysis (Table 2). The results concluded that 1.25% GAM was most effective medicament followed by 2% povidone-iodine. There was no statistical difference in the activity of chlorhexidine and Syzygium cumini. Curcumin longa showed minimum activity whereas, distilled water showed no activity at all.
Table. 1. Antibacterial activity of different medicaments against Enterococcus fecalis
S.No. Sample N Mean ± SD (in mm) Significance F-value P-value
1 2% Povidone-iodine 5 25.60 ± 4.77 129.97 < 0.001**
2 10% Curcumin longa 5 7.80 ± 5.12
3 50% Syzygium cumini 5 17.40 ± 2.19
4 1.25% GAM antibiotic 5 40.80 ±
According to Nakornchai et al. (2010)[ ] the 3-Mix antibiotic paste containing ciprofloxacin, minocycline and metronidazole is superior to vitapex for root canal treatment of pulpally involved primary molars. But Kim et al. (2010)[ ] and Lenherr et al. (2012)[ ] identified the discolouration caused by minocycline used in tri-antibiotic paste. Therefore, Thomson and Kahler (2010)[ ] substituted amoxicillin for minocycline in their case report to avoid this discoloration. Hence in the present study a new combination of antibiotics was used containing Gentamycin, Amoxicillin and Metronidazole and was termed as GAM paste. Gentamycin has rapid bactericidal activity, and comparatively low levels of resistance, therefore is used for rapid control of infections. Amoxicillin targets gram-positive micro-organisms and metronidazole has a broad spectrum activity against protozoa and anaerobic organisms. The topical antibiotics can sterilize necrotic pulps of primary teeth where the systemic antibiotics are not much effective due to lack of blood supply.[