THE IN-VITRO ADHESION OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO BUCCAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS (BEC) FROM DIABETIC AND NON DIABETIC INDIVIDUALS AFTER IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO APPLICATION OF NYSTATIN

Buccal epithelial cells (BEG) from 12 patients with diabetes mellitus and 12 age-and sex-matched non-diabetic subjects were tested in vitro for adhesion of Candida albicans following exposure to nystatin both i n vitro and in vivo. Adhesion was significantly reduced (P<0.002) to c ells from both the diabetic and non-diabetic subjects after in vitro e xposure to nystatin, but the reduction in adhesion was variable (5.0-5 0.7% in control subjects and 0.5-48.4% in diabetic subjects) and equiv alent between the two groups. In vivo exposure to nystatin produced no overall significant reduction in candidal adhesion to cells from eith er diabetic or control subjects.