The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% Chlorhexidine (CHX), 2% Iodine potassium iodide (IKI) with surfactants Triton X-100 (TX-100) and Cetrimide (CTR) against MTAD on Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) .The antimicrobial efficacy of irrigants was tested by Modified Kirby-Bauer method. Known volume of test irrigants and surfactants was introduced into the sterile paper discs and placed on the Mueller Hinton agar plates. After overnight incubation at 37oC, zone of bacterial inhibition was measured.
The data obtained was statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni Multiple Comparison test. There was no significant difference between 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine, 2% Iodine potassium iodide. Triton X-100 showed no zone of inhibition. Cetrimide showed zones of inhibition for all test concentrations. 0.5% CTR was found to be the effective concentration. MTAD was statistically significant over the routine endodontic irrigants and combination regimens.
The results of this study showed 0.5% cetrimide had strong antibacterial efficacy as routine endodontic irrigants (2.5% NaOCl, 2%CHX, 2% IKI) even at a lower concentration. MTAD had stronger antibacterial efficacy on E.faecalis when compared to routine irrigants and combination regimens.