Comparison of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Manuka Honey Against E.faecalis and E.coli - An In vitro Study.

AIM: To compare the antibacterial efficacy of Manuka honey against E.faecalis and E.coli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Escherichia coli (ATCC-25922) and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC-29212) were separately inoculated in the nutrient broth and incubated at 37(o)C for 24-48 hrs. Bacterial samples were kept in contact with each disinfectant solution for varying intervals of time. Once the test time had elapsed 10µL of the bacterial dilutions were plated on Mueller-Hinton agar and incubated for 24-48 hrs at 37°C to estimate the density. Study of the disinfection process with respect to time and Modeling was done. RESULTS: The mean value of the antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey against E.coli and E.faecalis are 1.55 and 0.36 respectively and are relatively higher. It shows that there is a significant difference among the various root canal disinfectant groups against E. coli and E. feacalis. (p<0.001) CONCLUSION: Manuka honey is shown to be a potential root canal disinfectant against gram positive and gram negative bacterial pathogens.