Evaluation of the antibacterial potential of tetracycline or erythromycin mixed with calcium hydroxide as intracanal dressing against Enterococcus faecalis in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the intracanal antibacterial potential of tetracycline or erythromycin mixed with calcium hydroxide (CH) against enterococci in vivo.


METHODS
Fifty-five teeth in which enterococci were present were dressed for 1 month with either tetracycline (28 teeth) or erythromycin (27 teeth) mixed with CH.


RESULTS
The tetracycline mixture was effective against enterococci in 22 teeth (79%). In 7 teeth, other microorganisms were recovered, resulting in a total antimicrobial effect of 54%. The corresponding results for erythromycin were 96% and 56%.


CONCLUSIONS
The antimicrobial treatment of CH in combination with either erythromycin or tetracycline had a significant effect on enterococci, but the overall antimicrobial effect was relatively weak. Erythromycin mixed with CH seems to be a valuable option in the battle against monoinfections of enterococci.
Molander
Anders
A
Department of Endodontology/Oral Diagnosis, Göteborg University, Sweden. a.molander@odontologi.gu.se
Dahlén
Gunnar
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide