Table 3.

Characteristics of the studies potentially eligible for quantitative analysis.

Author	Date	Autoclaving	Carbon dioxide laser sterilization	Chemical sterilization (with glutaraldehyde)	Glass-bead sterilization	Dry hot sterilization	Salt, complete file, 1 min	Salt, complete file, 15 s	Benzalkonium chloride	Salt, blade only	Bacterial contamination	Control	Endodontic instrument diameter and length
Kumar et al. [12]	2015	0/12		0/12	7/12				5/12		Contaminated by oral bacteria during clinical use	12/12	Endodontic files 25 mm
Raju et al. [16]	2013	0/20	0/20	4/20	2/20						Bacillus stearothermophilus	20/20	21 mm 25 20 K-files (100)
Venkatasubramanian et al. [17]	2010	0/20	0/20	4/20	2/20						Bacillus stearothermophilus	20/20	21 mm 25 20 K-files (100)
Morrison and Conrod[19]	2009	23/40				5/40					Contaminated by oral bacteria during clinical use		Endodontic files 25 mm
Hurtt and Rossman[18]	1996	0/15		1/15			7/15	15/15		15/15	Bacillus stearothermophilus	15/15	Hand files (5 of size 10, 5 of size 30, and 5 of size 60)

The study by Archie Morrison was excluded from the statistical analysis.