Effects of chlorhexidine diacetate on Candida albicans, C. glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effects of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHA) on Candida albicans, C. glabrata and wild-type and mannan, and permeability mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been studied. A CHA concentration of 10 micrograms/ml had little lethal activity against the Candida strains, but was more effective against S. cerevisiae. Concentrations of 100 and especially 1000 micrograms/ml brought about a much more rapid death of cells. 2-Mercaptoethanol enhanced the activity of CHA to some extent. Some of the mutant strains of S. cerevisiae were rather more sensitive than the wild-type strain. The age of cultures of C. albicans and C. glabrata influenced their response to CHA.