Comparison of disinfectant effect of Sodium hypochlorite 0/5%, Deconex and Surfosept on Alginate Impressions

Infection control has always been one of the most important issues in dentistry. Dentists are exposed to harmful microorganisms originating from the blood and saliva. In prosthodontics contaminated impression materials are in contact with the laboratory personnel. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to establish a method for disinfecting these materials. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of three different disinfectants on alginate disks using the immersion method. The disinfecting efficacy of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, Deconex and Surfosept was evaluated in vitro by immersion method using 240 alginate disks contaminated with 3 microorganisms. Eighty alginate disks were prepared for each microorganism. The disks were immersed in the disinfecting solution. Cultures were prepared and colony counts were determined after 24 hours. Data were analyzed with chi-squared test and logistic regression using SPSS 20 (α = 0.05). The antimicrobial activities of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, Deconex and Surfosept were significant (p value < 0.001). Surfosept exhibited the greatest effect on Staphylococcus aureus (mean colony count of 20.05 ± 3.28) while Deconex exhibited the greatest effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mean colony count of 31.15 ± 4.27) and Candida albicans (mean colony count of 7.55 ± 2.37). The results of this study showed that 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution in all the three cases was the least effective. In the case of Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the greatest effects were recorded with Deconex and for Staphylococcus aureus with Surfosept.