[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.

Keywords: Aceites esenciales; Candida albicans; Cetylpyridinium chloride; Chlorhexidine; Clorhexidina; Cloruro de cetilpiridinio; Enjuagues bucales; Essential oils; Eucaliptol; Eucalyptol; Mouthwashes; Rhodotorula mucilaginosa; Thymol; Timol.