CULTURE BROTH CONTAMINATION BY RESIDUAL PARA-AMINOTOLUENE SULFONAMIDE (BENZYLOG)

¹ Loyola University School of Dentistry, Chicago, Ill.

The problem of residual contamination of culture broth by PATS, as might possibly occur in root canal therapy, was investigated.

Endodontal bacterial growth was not inhibited in brain-heart infusion broth where the PATS concentration was as high as 10 mg. per cent, nor was it inhibited in culture broth with a similated exaggerated contamination of PATS.

Of 257 negative clinical cultures, 98 per cent showed no inhibition to endodontal bacterial growth, provided viable organisms were introduced into them.

It seems clear that of all culture samples taken in the usual fashion during endodontic treatment with PATS, 98 to 99 per cent of the results will be accurate and reliable.