Contaminación de los conos de gutapercha durante el uso clínico endodóntico en la IPS de la federación odontológica colombiana

Abstract

The success of endodontic treatment depends largely on controlling microbial contamination during its various phases, especially during the obturation of the root canal system. This obturation is a crucial stage of endodontic treatment, as the introduction of contaminated materials compromises the asepsis achieved during instrumentation and disinfection. Although gutta-percha points are the obturation material of choice, their incompatibility and stability prevent them from being sterilized using conventional methods, making them susceptible to contamination during storage and clinical handling. The objective of this research was to identify polymicrobial contamination in commercially sterilized gutta-percha points after exposure to the clinical environment and handling during endodontic practice. Through a quasi-experimental, in vitro study, 78 gutta-percha cones, size 20/02, from the same commercial lot were analyzed. These cones were incubated in brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth and cultured on selective and non-selective media for microbial identification. The results showed microbial contamination in all the cones evaluated, with Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp./Bacillus brevis, and Corynebacterium spp. being the most frequently identified organisms. In conclusion, gutta-percha cones are not sterile at the time of clinical use, even when they come from new packaging. Therefore, it is necessary to implement standardized disinfection protocols prior to obturation to reduce the risk of contamination and improve the prognosis of endodontic treatment