Comparative In Vitro Antifungal Activity of 0.2% Chlorhexidine and 1% Povidone-Iodine Oral Antiseptic Solutions Against Candida albicans

Jorgy Rahmat Syahhada (Medical Faculty, Unissula)

Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research
Vol 7, No 1 (2026): Vol 7 No 1 (2026)

Alterations in the oral microbiota of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, particularly those receiving mechanical ventilation, may increase the risk of Candida albicans colonization. Oral antiseptics such as chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine are commonly used; however, evidence regarding their antifungal efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to compare the in vitro antifungal efficacy of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 1% povidone-iodine against Candida albicans.This laboratory experimental study used a post-test-only control group design. Antifungal activity was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method on a standardized Candida albicans suspension (0.5 McFarland; 1×10⁸ CFU/mL). Inhibition zone diameters were measured after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods and MALDI-TOF MS. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test after non-normality was confirmed by the Shapiro–Wilk test.The results showed that 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate produced a median inhibition zone diameter of 20 mm (19–20 mm), which was significantly greater than that of 1% povidone-iodine (11 mm [10–11 mm]). The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001).In conclusion, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate was more effective than 1% povidone-iodine in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans in vitro.