Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Antimicrobial Agents Used for Regenerative Endodontics: An In Vitro Study.

Aim: To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of double antibiotic paste (DAP), silver nanoparticle (AgNP) gel, and tailored amorphous multiporous bioactive glass (TAMP-BG) in concentrations suitable for regenerative endodontics (RE) against 3-week-old Enterococcus faecalis biofilms after 24 hours and 7 days. Results: Radicular human dentin specimens were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis to form 3-week-old biofilms. DAP (1 mg/mL), AgNPs 0.02%, and TAMP-BG 100 mg/mL, in methylcellulose gel formulations, were used as antimicrobials. The biofilm disruption assay was done followed by quantification of bacterial colony-forming units and scanning electron microscopic analysis. Results showed that 1 mg/mL of DAP or AgNPs 0.02% provided significant antibiofilm effects at both time intervals. Both DAP and AgNPs significantly reduced bacterial counts and biofilms after 7 days compared with 24 hours. Furthermore, 100 mg/mL of TAMP-BG had a comparable antibiofilm effect, but it was less potent than DAP and AgNPs at both time intervals. Conclusions: DAP (1 mg/mL), 0.02% AgNPs, and TAMP-BG (100 mg/mL) can significantly reduce E. faecalis biofilms. However, complete elimination was only possible with DAP and AgNPs.

Fungal Infection among Patients with Some Hematopoietic Disorders.

With the increasing number of immune compromised patients suffering from hematological disorders, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients. This study evaluated the use of conventional blood culture and PCR techniques in the isolation and identification of fungi from patients with different hematopoietic disorders. Ninety blood samples were tested by both techniques, conventional blood culture detected fungal infections in only five (5.6%) samples, which were further identified to be of Candida spp. While PCR technique detected fungal infections in 56 (62.2%) samples, which were further subjected to nested PCR technique giving final identification of Candida spp. infections in 36 (40%) samples and Aspergillus spp. in 16 (17.8) samples. The sensitivity of PCR technique was 100% and the specificity ranged from 40% to 100%. Thus, the use of nested PCR technique was an efficient and sensitive method for detection of invasive fungal infections among patients with hematopoietic disorders.