title: The effect of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid on Candida albicans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal effect of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) on Candida albicans, comparing it with that of various disinfectants and common antifungal agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two clinical oral isolates and 1 standard strain of C albicans were included in this study. Main contents of the test solutions were sodium hypochlorite, EDTA, chlorhexidine, hexetidine, benzalkonium chloride, povidone-iodine, nystatin, and ketoconazole. The agar diffusion method was used to determine the antifungal effects of the solutions. Zones of inhibition were recorded and the results were analyzed statistically by using a 2-way analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EDTA demonstrated the highest antifungal activity in comparison with routine antifungal drugs and all other solutions (P <.0001). Oral cavity isolate was more resistant to the test solutions (P <.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The selection of irrigating and disinfecting solution in root canals of patients with a particularly high incidence of oral candidiasis gains extreme importance. EDTA may be strongly recommended during endodontic therapy of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. bbsen@superonline.com
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Akdeniz
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Denizci
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid