[Conventional treatment of oral candidiasis--new aspects]

Polyene antibiotics such as nystatin and amphotericin B are among the most widely recommended drugs for use in the treatment of oral candidiasis. It is also generally accepted that chlorhexidine gluconate is an appropriate adjunct or an alternative to specific antimycotic drugs. The aim of the present paper was to discuss the conventional treatment against Candida albicans infections. It has previously been shown in an vitro study that combination of chlorhexidine and nystatin reduced the effect against Candida albicans. The most likely reason is that a low solubility chlorhexidine-nystatin salt is formed, thus rendering the combined drug complex ineffective as an antibiotic agent. Other pharmacologic interactions are also discussed. In the treatment of denture related candidiasis one should keep in mind that some tissue conditioners will inhibit the antifungal activity of amphotericin B. A more restrictive use of combinations of drugs against oral candidiasis is suggested.