[Antifungal activity of mouthwashes against Candida albicans and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: An in vitro study].

BACKGROUND

Candida albicans and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa are yeasts of clinical importance in the oral cavity. In immunocompromised patients they can cause some pathologies that must be controlled with antimicrobials.

AIMS

To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of commercially available mouthrinses against strains of C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa.

METHODS

The six mouthwashes studied in vitro were formulated (alone or in combination) with chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.12%, CHX 0.1%, CHX 0.05%, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) 0.075%, CPC 0.05%, and essential oils. Ten C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa isolates each were studied. The agar diffusion method (Mueller Hinton II), with incubation at 32°C was used to evaluate the antifungal activity.

RESULTS

The results of this study indicate that mouthwashes with CHX 0.1%, CHX 0.12%, CHX 0.05% + CPC 0.05%, CHX 0.12% + CPC 0.05% and CPC 0.075% have an antifungal effect against C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa. CHX 0.1% led to the broadest inhibition zone for C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa (25.65±2.39mm and 40.05±3.31mm). Essential oils did not show any antifungal activity. Statistical analysis showed no statistical difference between mouth rinses CHX 0.1%, CHX 0.12% and CHX 0.12% + CPC 0.05% (p=0.0001) against C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa.

CONCLUSIONS

Mouthwashes with CHX showed higher antifungal activity against C. albicans and R. mucilaginosa than other mouthwashes studied.