Salivary concentrations of amphotericin B following its use as an oral lozenge

Amphotericin B concentrations were measured in the saliva of ten healthy volunteers who had sucked on lozenges with this drug. It appeared that high amphotericin B concentrations can be achieved in this way in the saliva. Even half an hour after swallowing the last remnant of a lozenge, the amphotericin B concentration was found to be high enough to suppress the growth of sensitive Candida albicans strains. The possible usefulness of amphotericin B lozenges in the selective decontamination of the oropharynx of yeasts and other fungi is discussed and compared with the application of this drug in orabase.