In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. isolates from patients with chronic periodontitis and from control patients Suscetibilidade in vitro aos antifúngicos em cepas de Candida spp. isoladas de pacientes com periodontite crônica e de indivíduos controle

INTRODUCTION Candida genus yeasts are considered superinfecting microorganisms and can lead to severe periodontal infections in immunocompromised patients or individuals under antimicrobial therapy for long periods. Under specific situations, such as in immunodepressed patients, the superinfection by Candida can be refractory to conventional periodontal treatments. In these cases, the systemic therapy with antifungal drugs could be indicated. Oral candidosis used to be treated with polyene amphotericin B or nystatin. The discovery of antifungal activity of azolic compounds represented an important advance in the treatment of superficial and systemic fungal infections. Imidazolic compounds, such as ketoconazole and Braz Oral Res 2004;18(1):80-4