1.Occurence Of Enterococci In Root Canals And In The Immediate Clinical Environment
Z.A. Che Ab Aziz ; S.A. Baharin ; D. Spralf ; K. Gulabivala
Annals of Dentistry 2009;16(1):1-8
This study aimed to detect the presence of enterococci
in the root canals of untreated and treated teeth with
periapical disease and to compare this to their presence
in the saliva and in the immediate surgical environment
during root canal treatment. Using an aseptic
technique, 33 samples were obtained from 27 untreated
and 6 previously treated teeth associated with apical
periodontitis. Reduced Transport Fluid (RTF) was used
as transport medium. Saliva samples and areas in the
surgical environment were also sampled. These were
performed prior to chemo-mechanical debrjdement and
obturation for every case. The saliva was diluted to 10-
J and was plated on Bile Aesculin Azide (BEA) agar
whereas the rest of the samples were plated on Bile
Aesculin (BE) agar. These plates were then incubated
aerobically at 37°C for 48 hours. All the colony types
that blackened the agar were sub-cultured to obtain
pure isolates and tested on 6.5% sodium chloride
(NaCI). Growth on this medium was Gram stained for
further confirmation of cell morphology. Gram positive
cocci isolated from previous positive test were
identified as enterococci. Enterococci were recovered
from untreated cases only; from 2 teeth (in 2 patients)
prior to chemo-mechanical debridement, from 3 teeth
(in 3 patients) prior to obturation and I from saliva
sample. A 'total of 5 samples from 5 different patients
were positive for enteroco·cci. Sampling in the
immediate surgical environment revealed a low
occurence in the range of3.0% (1/33) to 15_2% (5/33).
In conclusion, the occurence of enterococci in patients
and the immediate surgical environment was low
number.