Frequency of enterococcus faecalis in saliva and root canals with treatment failure

ABSTRACT

To compare the frequency of E. faecalis in the saliva and root canals of teeth associated with apical periodontitis due to endodontic treatment failure in the same patient. Cross-sectional comparative study. Samples were collected from Operative Dentistry Department, AFID, while Iaboratory processing was done at AFIP, Rawalpindi. Study duration was one year. Fifty patients, both males and females with failed endodontic treatment were selected. Saliva and root canal samples were collected from each patient, inoculated on MacKonkey agar plate and incubated at 35-37[degree]C for 48 hrs. E. faecalis colonies were identified by colony morphology, gramstain, catalase, bile asculin test, arabinose fermentation and growth in 6% NaCl nutrient broth. The frequency of E. faecalis in saliva was 34% and in root canal it was 58%. Frequency between the presence of E. faecalis in root canals and saliva was found to be statistically different [p = 0.001]. The presence of E. faecalis in root canal was not associated with their presence in saliva