AN IN VITRO COMPARISON OF ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC PASTE, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE AND ACACIA NILOTICA (BABBULA) AGAINST ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS, STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS AND CANDIDA ALBICANS AS INTRACANAL MEDICAMENTS.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Triple antibiotic paste (TAP), Calcium hydroxide and Acacia nilotica (A. nilotica) (Babbula) against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) as intracanal medicaments. Materials and methods: The triple antibiotic paste mixture of (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin and minocycline), calcium hydroxide, Acacia nilotica (Babbula) were weighed and mixed with polyethylene glycol and agar well diffusion method was employed to study the antimicrobial efficiency against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans Results: All the intracanal medicaments showed zone of inhibition against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Among all intracanal medicaments used in the study Triple antibiotic paste produced maximum zone of inhibition followed by Babbula and least by Calcium hydroxide. Conclusions: Triple antibiotic paste showed the best antimicrobial efficacy followed by Babbula and least by Calcium hydroxide against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. More phytochemical studies need to be done. Further evaluation of concentrated extracts of Acacia nilotica (Babbula) could yield better results.