Comparative Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Octenidine Dihydrochloride with Contemporary Root Canal Disinfectants: A Systematic Review

Octenidine is a cationic disinfectant that has been tested for its wide range of antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility. It finds its application in the medical field as an antiseptic for wounds and mucous membranes. The present systematic review aims to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Octenidine Dihydrochloride with various root canal irrigants and medicaments. An electronic search strategy was planned to search the database of PUBMED CENTRAL and MEDLINE using the search terms alone and in combination using PUBMED search builder till September 2019 for related studies. In Vitro studies that compared the antibacterial efficacy of Octenidine Dihydrochloride to other irrigants and medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans using extracted human teeth were included in the review. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in the microbial load which was assessed through either CFU or the percentage of viable and dead bacteria. A total of 7 studies that matched the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review. The studies indicated that Octenidine Dihydrochloride was highly effective in eliminating E faecalis and C albicans and could be a more biocompatible potential alternative or an adjunct to the existing irrigants and medicaments.