Effectiveness of a topical antifungal regimen for the treatment of oral candidiasis in older, chronically ill, institutionalized, adults.

Because of predisposing systemic disease, the frequent administration of medication, and the use of a complete denture, oral candidiasis is a common problem among older, chronically ill, institutionalized adults. This randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an antifungal denture soaking solution (48 mL nystatin liquid, 100,000 IU/mL, dissolved in 432 mL of distilled water producing 10,000 IU nystatin mL solution), used as an adjunct to a nystatin vaginal lozenge (100,000 IU/g, dissolved in the mouth three times daily for seven days) in a group of older, chronically ill, institutionalized adults. Although the clinical signs and symptoms of oral candidiasis were resolved in all subjects following therapy, the presence of invasive Candida hyphae was detected in approximately 80 per cent of tissue and/or dentures. When compared to tap water, the use of an antifungal denture soaking solution produced no detectable difference in the presence of Candida albicans hyphae over a three-month period (M-H chi-square = 0.021, p = 0.886), but it did reduce the rate of recurrence of clinical signs and symptoms. The appropriateness of this regimen for the treatment of oral candidiasis in this type of patient is challenged.