Antifungal Efficacy of 5·25 percent sodium hypochlorite , 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate and 17 percent EDTA with and without antifungal agent as root canal irrigant

Aim: The aim of this invitro study was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of 5·25 percent Sodium Hypochlorite, 2 percent Chlorhexidine Gluconate, and 17 percent EDTA as final irrigant with and without the inclusion of an Antifungal agent that is 1 percent Clotrimazole on Candida albicans. Methods: 30 single rooted instrumented teeth were inoculated with the suspension of Candida albicans. These 30 samples were divided into TWO groups of 15 samples each. GROUP 1 - Without antifungal agent GROUP 2 - With antifungal agent that is 1 percent Clotrimazole. The GROUP 1 containing 15 samples was further subdivided into three subgroups of 5 samples each. Samples in subgroup 1 were irrigated with 5·25 percent sodium hypochlorite, samples in subgroup 2 were irrigated with 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate, and samples in subgroup 3 with 17 percent EDTA. The GROUP 2 containing 15 samples which is with antifungal agent was similarly subdivided into three subgroups of 5 samples each and was similarly irrigated with 5·25 percent sodium hypochlorite, 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate, and 17 percent EDTA respectively but was followed by 1percent clotrimazole as a final rinse. Then aliquots from these samples were plated on 4 percent sabouraud agar, and the colony forming units were evaluated. Results: 5·25 percent sodiumhypochlorite exhibited superior antifungal efficacy compared to 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate and 17 percent EDTA. On inclusion of 1 percent clotrimazole, there was a significant decrease in colony forming units. 5·25 percent sodiumhypochlorite and 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate with clotrimazole showed significantly greater antifungal properties than 17 percent EDTA with clotrimazole. Conclusion: 1 percent clotrimazole proved to be effective against Candida albicans when used along with root canal irrigants as a final rinse. Keywords: antifungal, Candida albicans, chlorhexidine gluconate, clotrimazole, EDTA, irrigation, sodium hypochlorite