Adhesion of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells exposed to chlorhexidine gluconate

The adhesion of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) exposed to chlorhexidine gluconate either in vivo or in vitro, was studied using BEC obtained from an adult and two children. There was a significant reduction in the adherence of yeasts to BEC collected immediately after an oral rinse of chlorhexidine. Also a significant positive correlation was noted (r = 0.99) between the time which elapsed after a chlorhexidine rinse and yeast adhesion to BEC. In-vitro exposure of BEC from both children and the adult to 0.2%, 0.02%, and 0.002% chlorhexidine, also reduced candidal adhesion to BEC.