Antimicrobial effect of an oxazolidinone, lantibiotic and calcium hydroxide against Enterococcus faecalis biofilm: An in vitro study

• Published in: Indian journal of dentistry Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 190 - 194
• Main Authors: Taneja, Sonali, Kumar, Pragya, Malhotra, Komal, Dhillon, Jaidev
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2015; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Calcium hydroxide; Care and treatment; Comparative analysis; Enterococcal infections; Linezolid; Original; India; Enterococcus faecalis; Biofilm; linezolid; nisin
• ISSN: 0975-962X; 2213-3666
• DOI: 10.4103/0975-962X.170372

The aim was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of an oxazolidinone (linezolid [LZ]), lantibiotic (nisin), and calcium hydroxide against Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formed on tooth substrate after 2 and 7 days. Single rooted human mandibular premolars were decoronated, biomechanically prepared, and vertically sectioned along the midsagittal plane to obtain a standardized tooth substrate. Standardized suspension of E. faecalis and tooth substrate was incubated for 3 weeks to allow growth of biofilm. At the end of 3 weeks, the grouping was done according to the medicament used - Group I - LZ, Group II - nisin, Group III - calcium hydroxide, Group IV - negative treatment. Disk of the medicaments used were prepared and placed upon Petri dishes along with bacterial emulsion on Mueller-Hinton agar. The zones of inhibition were checked after 2 and 7 days. The scores were statistically analyzed using Tukey honest significant difference test and one-way analysis of variance. Zone of inhibition obtained with LZ was widest followed by nisin and calcium hydroxide after a period of 2 days (P < 0.001). The size of the zone of inhibition remain unchanged for LZ and nisin group after 7 days (P > 0.001) unlike calcium hydroxide group where the zone decreased (P < 0.001). LZ showed maximum antimicrobial potential against E. faecalis biofilm followed by nisin and calcium hydroxide after 2 and 7 days. The antimicrobial effect of LZ and nisin was not affected with the lapse of time, but that of calcium hydroxide significantly decreased.