In vitro activities of antimicrobial agents against Candida species.

Antimicrobial mouthrinses may represent a valid alternative to topical antifungal agents. However, the action of antimicrobials could be affected by the different ingredients incorporated into mouthrinse products. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antifungal and fungicidal activities of antimicrobials alone. A broth macrodilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 antimicrobial agents against Candida species. Minimum fungicidal concentration was also determined. All antimicrobials showed antifungal activity against all tested organisms, but cetylpyridinium chloride received significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (P < .005). Cetylpyridinium chloride also showed a greater fungicidal activity than chlorhexidine digluconate and hexetidine (P< .005), whereas sanguinarine chloride appeared to be less fungicidal against most of the isolates tested. These findings suggest that cetylpyridinium chloride may be used as a topical antifungal agent. Clinical trials are now required to assess its value in the management of oral candidosis.