Effect of Low-Level Laser therapy on the fungal proliferation of Candida albicans

摘要

Candida albicans plays an important role in triggering infections in HIV+ patients. The indiscriminate use of antifungals has led to resistance to Candida albicans, which requires new treatment alternatives for oral candidiasis. Low-level laser therapy promotes a considerable improvement in the healing of wounds and in curing illnesses caused by microorganisms. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of laser radiation on the cell proliferation of Candida albicans in immunosuppressed patients. Six Candida albicans strains that had been isolated from immunosuppressed patients were divided into a control group and experimental groups, which received eight sessions of laser therapy (InGaAlP, λ685nm, P = 30mW, CW, Φ～6 mm and GaAlAs, λ830nm, P = 40mW, CW, Φ～6 mm) using dosimetries of 6J/cm~2, 8J/cm~2, 10J/cm~2 and 12J/cm~2 for each wavelength and power. The results were not statistically significant (Kruskal Wallis, p ＞ 0.05), although the proliferation of Candida albicans was lower in some of the experimental groups. The dosimetry of 6J/cm~2 (GaAlAs, λ830nm, P = 40mW) provided lower mean scores than the other groups for the growth of Candida. Further studies are required to confirm whetehr laser therapy is a viable option in the treatment of fungal infections.