END-POINT STUDY OF BACTERICIDAL EFFECT OF ANTIBIOTICS USED IN ENDODONTICS

¹ Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

Penicillin was found to be effective against alpha streptococci in low concentration but a much higher concentration of this antibiotic was required to destroy Streptococcus fecalis. In exceedingly high concentration, penicillin was effective against Escherichia coli but was not effective against Candida albicans in any concentration tested.

Bacitracin was effective against staphylococci and Streptococcus fecalis in low concentration but was much less effective against alpha and beta streptococci. It was practically ineffective against Escherichia coli and completely ineffective against Candida albicans.

Streptomycin was effective against E. coti, streptococci, and staphylococci but practically ineffective against Streptococcus fecalis and wholly ineffective against C. albicans.

Caprylate sodium was effective against Candida albicans and against alpha streptococcus, and weakly effective against all other orgnisms tested.