Evaluation of glutaraldehyde as antimicrobial agent used in intraoral x-ray film holder bite block

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate sterilization of intraoral X-ray film holder bite blocks by immersion in 2% glutaraldehyde solution for 10 hours. Seventeen intraoral X-ray film holder bite blocks were inoculated in Tryptic Soy Broth media containing one of the tested microorganisms (S. aureus and B. subtilis) and were incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours. One bite block was used as a positive control. The other blocks were immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 hours and one block was used as a negative control. Fifteen bite blocks were removed and five of them were washed with 70% alcohol, five blocks were washed with distilled water and the others were washed in running water. Bacterial growth was observed after incubation. No bacterial growth was found in any block, however, in the blocks that were washed with running water and distilled water, various colonies of fungi were observed, while no growth was found on the blocks which underwent a final wash with 70% alcohol. The 2% glutaraldehyde solution was effective for the sterilization of intraoral X-ray film holder bite blocks when they were immersed for 10 hours using 70% alcohol during the last wash. Key words: Radiology. Microbiology. Dental infection control.