Sterilization of rotary NiTi instruments within endodontic sponges

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether the following can be sterilized by autoclaving – endodontic sponges, rotary nickel–titanium (NiTi) instruments within endodontic sponges, and rotary NiTi instruments with rubber stoppers. Methodology: Sixty-four samples of eight different endodontic sponges (n = 512) were placed into brain heart infusion broth (BHI) for 72 h. An aliquot of this was then spread onto horse blood agar and cultured aerobically and anaerobically to test sterility at purchase. Bacterial suspensions of Enterococcus faecalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Geobacillus stearothermophilus in BHI were used to contaminate sterile sponges and rotary NiTi instruments (with and without rubber stoppe..