Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Three Combinations of Different Antibiotics against Microorganisms in Gingival Abscess – An in Situ Study

Abstract

Background: It is important to maintain primary dentition in the dental arch to facilitate the development of permanent teeth, in spite of teeth with infected root canals. Antimicrobial agents have been used, but, even a broad spectrum antibiotic could not eradicate all the bacteria from the periapical lesions. An in situ study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of combinations antibiotics against microorganisms in a gingival abscess or primary tooth root canals. Methodology: Thirty children with gingival abscess secondary to pulp infection or infected primary tooth root canals were randomly selected for the study. Swabs of gingival abscess microbial content were used for development of bacteria in suitable media containing three combinations of antibiotics, under aerobic and anaerobic incubation. Ciprofloxacin, Minocycline were used with metronidazole, ornidazole, tinidazole antibiotics to form three different combinations. The antimicrobial efficacy was measured in terms of the diameter of the zone of inhibition around the antibiotic discs. Results: The three combinations of antibiotics exhibit equivalent efficacy for aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria, and the difference in efficacy between them was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was no difference in pair-wise significance between the groups. Conclusion: In view of the equivalent antibacterial activity of the three classes, towards the two types of bacteria, a group containing ornidazole was found to be superior with more favorable side effect profile compared to metronidazole.