Antimicrobial effect of alexidine and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis infection

Abstract

A previous study demonstrated that alexidine has greater affinity for the major virulence factors of bacteria than chlorhexidine. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of 1% alexidine with that of 2% chlorhexidine using Enterococcus faecalis-infected dentin blocks. Sixty bovine dentin blocks were prepared and randomly divided into six groups of 10 each. E. faecalis was inoculated on 60 dentin blocks using the Luppens apparatus for 24 h and then the dentin blocks were soaked in 2% chlorhexidine or 1% alexidine solutions for 5 and 10 min, respectively. Sterile saline was used as a control. The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by counting the number of bacteria adhering to the dentin surface and observing the degradation of bacterial shape or membrane rupture under a scanning electron microscope. Significantly fewer bacteria were observed in the 2% chlorhexidine- or 1% alexidine-soaked groups than in the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of bacteria adhering to the dentinal surface between the two experimental groups or between the two soaking time groups (P>0.05). Ruptured or antiseptic-attached bacteria were more frequently observed in the 10-min-soaked chlorhexidine and alexidine groups than in the 5-min-soaked chlorhexidine and alexidine groups. In conclusion, 10-min soaking with 1% alexidine or 2% chlorhexidine can be effective against E. faecalis infection.

Antimicrobial efficacy of alternative compounds for use in oral care toward biofilms from caries‐associated bacteria in vitro

“…Kim et al. () showed similar vesicle‐like structures after treatment of E. faecalis biofilms with CHX 2% for 5 or 10 min. Likewise, Shen et al.…”

“…Here, treatment with citrus extract 0.25% resulted in some cellular debris on the top layer of the biofilms, whereas in addition vesicle-like structures were apparent on bacterial cell surfaces after treatment with CHX 0.2% and even more after treatment with CPC 0.1% suggesting bacterial membrane damage. Kim et al (2013) Porphyromonas gingivalis showed no suchlike vesicles, but cellular debris only after treatment with CHX 0.2% for 20 min . While Vitkov et al (2005) found no alterations on the biofilm surfaces in SEM, they revealed from transmission electron microscopic investigations that treatment of ex vivo biofilms with CHX 0.1% for 5 min led to membrane blebbing associated with cytoplasmic vesicle-like lesions, probably due to loss of cytoplasm through membrane perforations.…”

Antimicrobial technology in orthopedic and spinal implants

“…Common antiseptics include chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol, which are thought to act through the interaction of their natural cationic nature with the anionic phosphate residue of the lipid molecules in bacterial cell membranes. This ionic adsorption damages cell membranes and limits bacterial adhesion ( Figure 2) [27,28] . In 1998, Darouiche [8] first demonstrated the effectiveness of antiseptic coatings on titanium cylinders studied in vitro with human serum before DeJong et al [29] tested chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol in a goat model, finding that these two antiseptics reduced external fixator pin tract infections.…”

Alexidine dihydrochloride has broad spectrum a ctivities against diverse fungal pathogens

“…However, only two drugs, alexidine dihydrochloride and thimerosal could significantly kill 80% of mature biofilm community at the tested concentration of <10 μM (Fig 1A and S1A ). We chose to focus our attention to studying alexidine dihydrochloride (AXD), since it was more attractive with respect to drug development, having indications for use as an antibacterial and antiplaque agent and with limited side effects (19–21).…”