In Vitro Screening of the Antibacterial and Anti-Candida Properties of Crushed Nonantimicrobial Drugs Frequently Prescribed in Nursing Homes

Frail older adults often experience swallowing disorders, prompting nursing staff to crush tablets, open capsules, and mix drugs into their meals or gelled water. However, crushing drugs can lead to pharmacological and gustatory problems. As crushed drugs can stay in prolonged contact with oral microbial biofilm, the current study aimed to investigate their antimicrobial properties. Crushed drugs were diluted in 1 mL of isotonic water and assayed in vitro for: (a) growth inhibition of five bacterial strains and Candida albicans by the diffusion method; (b) inhibition of Streptococcus salivarius and C. albicans biofilm formation; and (c) elimination of a preformed biofilm of S. salivarius and C. albicans after 5-minute contact. Eight of 29 crushed drugs inhibited bacterial and/or fungal growth on agar plates. Twenty-eight of 29 crushed drugs reduced the total biomass when incubated with S. salivarius, and 28 of 29 crushed drugs inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation. Preformed biomass was reduced by ≥25% by seven of 29 drugs. Crushed drugs may unbalance oral ecosystems and contribute to oral inflammation. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(2):82-90.].

Antiseptic mouthwashes could worsen xerostomia in patients taking polypharmacy

OBJECTIVE

Polypharmacy is a common cause of xerostomia. This study aimed to investigate whether xerostomia could be an adverse drug event of mouthwashes, when they are used for longer than 2 weeks by patients taking polypharmacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study included 120 hospitalized patients (60 middle-aged and 60 elderly patients), taking polypharmacy (≥4 drugs daily) and at risk of drug-induced xerostomia. Xerostomia was assessed by questioning participants.

RESULTS

A total of 62.5% of patients complained of xerostomia. In the middle-aged group (mean age=44.0 (8.7) years; 35.0% women) xerostomia seemed independently associated to mouthwashes, at the limit of significance (OR=5.00, 95% CI=0.99-25.3, p=0.052). Active principles in mouthwashes were mainly quaternary ammonium compounds (91.9%). Mouthwashes may disturb the healthy balance of the biofilm moisturizing the oral mucosa. The biofilm contains mucins, salivary glycoproteins with oligosaccharides side chains able to sequester water and endogenous bacteria surrounded by a glycocalyx. Oral bacteria are fully susceptible to quaternary ammonium (chlorhexidine, hexetidine, cetylpyridinium chloride) and to other antiseptics used in mouthwashes, such as betain, resorcin, triclosan, essential oils and alcohol. However, caregivers currently recommend such dental plaque control products to patients suffering from xerostomia in order to reduce the risk of caries and periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first report that use of antiseptic mouthwashes for more than 2 weeks could worsen xerostomia in patients taking polypharmacy. Oral care protocols should avoid this iatrogenic practice, particularly when xerostomia alters the quality-of-life and worsens malnutrition.

One-pot synthesis of a new antifungal polymerisable monomer and its characterisation by coordination-ion spray mass spectrometry

We have investigated the synthesis of a new antifungal agent with a polymerisable moiety for the prevention of denture stomatisis. Nystatin (antifungal polyene) is modified in one step by reaction with isocyanatoethylmethacrylate to afford a new polymerisable antifungal agent in good yield (90%). In order to prove the monografting of the acrylate derivative and to localise the new group in the skeleton of the molecule, a rapid and efficient analytical method involving electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was developed for the study. In view of the structures of such antifungal agents, their complexation with metal cations was investigated by Coordination-Ion Spray Mass Spectrometry (CIS-MS). This mass spectrometry study covers two aspects: improving the MS signal to overcome the low ionisation efficiency in ESI-MS and exploring the complexation behaviour of the induced structure to optimise the antifungal properties.