Antimicrobial Properties of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Bicarbonate Individually and in Combination Against Selected Oral,Gram-negative,Facultative Bacteria

Abstract

The topical application of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03), individually and in combination, has been used empirically in the treatment of periodontal diseases. In this study, we examined both minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of these disinfectants individually and in combination against selected facultative, Gram-negative oral bacteria in a microtiter dilution assay. The bacteria studied included Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus aphrophilus, Eikenella corrodens, and Capnocytophaga gingivalis. These bacteria exhibited MBC (one hr) values ranging from 75 μmol/L to greater than 10 mmol/L and MIC from <5 to 500 μmol/L for H₂O₂ . The tested bacteria exhibited MIC values for NaHCO₃ of from 23 to 182 mmol/L, and the MBC (one hr) exceeded 728 mmol/L for most of the strains examined. At sublethal (sub-MIC) concentrations, sodium bicarbonate antagonized the ability of H₂O₂ to inhibit bacterial growth in MIC assays, but sublethal concentrations of H₂O₂ had no effect on the MIC values of NaHCO₃. Lethal concentrations of H₂O₂ and NaHC03 exhibited synergistic antimicrobial activity in combination in one-hour bactericidal assays. Since the bactericidal properties of these antimicrobial agents are synergistic, we conclude that it may be rational to use them in combination to treat certain forms of periodontal disease. Also, lower and perhaps safer concentrations of H₂O₂ can be used in combination with NaHC03 when oxidative antimicrobial chemotherapy is indicated.

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