title: An in vitro evaluation of the ability of ozone to kill a strain of Enterococcus faecalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential of ozone as an antibacterial agent using Enterococcus faecalis as the test species.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ozone was produced by a custom-made bench top generator and its solubility in water determined by ultraviolet (258 nm) spectrophotometric analysis of solutions through which ozone was sparged for various time-periods. The antibacterial efficacy of ozone was tested against both broth and biofilm cultures. Ozone was sparged for 30, 60, 120 and 240 s, through overnight broth cultures of a strain of E. faecalis (E78.2) and compared with those that were centrifuged, washed and resuspended in water. Enterococcus faecalis (E78.2) biofilms were grown on cellulose nitrate membrane filters for 48 h and suspended in water through which ozone gas was sparged with stirring for 60, 120 and 240 s in a standard fashion. In a separate test, biofilms were also exposed to gaseous ozone. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was used as a positive control. All experiments were repeated four times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant (P < 0.05) reductions of bacteria in the unwashed (2 log(10) reductions) and washed (5 log(10) reductions) broth cultures following 240 s applications. Biofilms incubated for 240 s with ozonated water showed no significant reduction in cell viability attributable to ozone alone, whereas with NaOCl no viable cells were detected over the same time. Gaseous ozone applied for 300 s had no effect on these biofilms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ozone had an antibacterial effect on planktonic E. faecalis cells and those suspended in fluid, but little effect when embedded in biofilms. Its antibacterial efficacy was not comparable with that of NaOCl under the test conditions used.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Endodontology, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University College London, London WC1X 8LD, UK.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hems
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gulabivala
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ready
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spratt
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D010126:Ozone; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite