Effect of chlorhexidine gluconate on the adherence of Candida species to denture acrylic.

The effect of pretreatment of denture acrylic with chlorhexidine gluconate on the subsequent adherence of Candida albicans GDH 2346 was measured in vitro. Adherence was significantly reduced by pretreatment with chlorhexidine; maximal inhibition was achieved by incubation at room temperature for 30 min in 2% chlorhexidine. Inhibition of adherence was greatest when the organisms were grown in conditions that enhanced adherence the most, i.e., growth to stationary phase in high concentrations of galactose and sucrose. Yeasts grown in high concentrations of galactose, which were the most adherent to acrylic, were also the most sensitive to the fungicidal action of chlorhexidine gluconate, whereas those grown in a low concentration of glucose were the least adherent and also the most resistant. Adherence to acrylic of seven strains of C. albicans isolated from active infections (I strains) and grown in medium containing 500 mM sucrose was significantly higher than that of four strains obtained from asymptomatic carriers (C strains). A spectrum of adherence values was obtained when various yeasts other than C. albicans were tested.