Antibacterial effect of oral antiseptics on facultative bacteria

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of four oral antiseptics (two solutions of cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine gluconate and benzalkonium chloride) on facultative bacteria using two methods. Methods: Strains were inoculated in 7 mL of brain heart infusion (BHI) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. For the agar diffusion test, 15 Petri plates with 20 mL of brain heart infusion agar (BHIA) were inoculated with 0.1 mL of microbial suspensions using sterile swabs to produce confluent growth; one Petri plate was not inoculated. Thirty-six 9-mm paper discs were immersed in the experimental solutions (0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride, 0.075% cetylpyridinium chloride, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 0.13% benzalkonium chloride) for 1 minute. Subsequently, three paper discs containing irrigant solutions were placed on the BHIA in each plate. The plates were kept at room temperature for 1 hour and incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Two measurements of the inhibition zones were made on the paper discs containing the solutions, and mean values were calculated. For the direct exposure test, 216 #50 sterilized paper points were immersed in the microorganism suspensions for 5 minutes, placed onto Petri plates and covered with 10 mL of irrigant solution. At one, five, 10 and 30 minutes, three paper points were removed from the contact substances, transported individually, immersed in 7 mL Letheen broth and incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Bacterial growth was evaluated by turbidity. An inoculum of 0.1 mL Letheen broth was transferred to 7 mL BHI, and incubated as described above. Bacterial growth was evaluated according to turbidity. Results: Inhibition zones were greater than 10 mm for all substances and all microorganisms under study. The antibacterial effect of 0.13% benzalkonium chloride against the biological indicators was observed after five minutes in direct exposure, while cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine gluconate had an antibacterial effect against all the microorganisms after 10 minutes. Conclusion: The antiseptic solutions included in this study had an antibacterial effect against S. mutans, E. faecalis, and P. aeruginosa.