In vitro studies of the efficacy of antimicrobials against fungi.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Listerine Antiseptic, Tartar Control Listerine Antiseptic, and Peridex mouthrinses and a 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate solution against known pathogenic fungi.

STUDY

DESIGN

Standardized methods were used to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of the above agents versus representative fungal species. Minimum inhibitory concentration-minimum fungicidal concentrations in macrobroth dilutions, suspension kill-time, and effectiveness against an artificial biofilm-attached population were studied.

RESULTS

All antimicrobials tested were effective against the fungal species under investigation at the concentration available commercially. Listerine Antiseptic showed a greater efficacy against attached artificial biofilm populations than the other antimicrobials tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Listerine Antiseptic, Tartar Control Listerine Antiseptic, and Peridex mouthrinses show promise as a means to control the pathogenic fungal species under investigation and may have applications to reduce oral colonization.