THE EFFECT OF OXIDIZING AGENTS ON CERTAIN NONSPORE-FORMING ANAEROBES

¹ Department of Bacteriology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky

Hydrogen peroxide, as such, is far more bacteriocidal for anaerobes than is the oxygen liberated.

Anaerobic bacteria may tolerate a temporary exposure to oxygen liberated by oxidizing agents without being destroyed. The germicidal effect of sodium perborate on anaerobes is probably due to factors other than mere liberation of oxygen. These factors may also exert a deleterious effect on tissues.

Zinc peroxide offers the most promising results as a prolonged oxidizing agent.

The difficulty of keeping the zinc peroxide in contact with oral tissues for prolonged periods must be considered.

There is no reason to assume that anaerobes are any less susceptible to the germicidal action of commonly used chemicals than are aerobes.