Candida albicans is the major etiological agent of oral infections.
Recently a new species closely related to Candida albicans, Candida
dubliniensis, was isolated from the mouth of HIV patients. Due to
their similar surface properties, both species have equal abilities to
colonise the oral cavity and to form biofilms. Candidal infections
are often difficult to eradicate due to the resistance of biofilms to
antifungal agents. In this work the susceptibility of two strains of
Candida albicans and of two strains of Candida dubliniensis biofilms to
flucanazole and amphotericin B was evaluated and compared to that
of planktonic cells. Antifungal testing to determine the MICs of
planktonic cells were performed according to the NCCLS M27 A
broth micro dilution method. The same methodology was adapted
for biofilm susceptibilities. Additionally the effect of the presence
of artificial saliva on antifungal susceptibilities was evaluated.
All Candidal strains grown in planktonic forms were susceptible to
both antifungal agents (MIC80<8ìg/ml), according to the NCCLS
guidelines. As expected a great decrease in antifungal susceptibility
was detected in all Candidal biofilms for both antifungal agents,
with special relevance for flucanazole, in which MIC50>12 ìg/ml.
Antifungal susceptibility was affected by artificial saliva, in this
medium candidal cells exhibited a smaller susceptibility than in
RPMI medium probably due to their lower metabolic activity
