Inactivation of Amphotericin B, Chlorquinaldol, Gentian Violet and Nystatin by Bile Salts

Abstract

Bile salts (Difco), 1%; inactivate amphotericin B, chlorquinaldol, gentian violet and nystatin to a considerable and varying degree depending upon the antimycotic agent. The exact mechanism by which bile salts exert their effect has not been established. Bile salts in the concentrations employed produce no pH changes in the medium and exert no stimulatory or depressing effect upon microbial growth. Other anionic and non-ionic agents in considerably greater concentration fail to produce the same effect. Prolonged exposure of the test organism, Candida albicans, does not alter the susceptibility of the treated organism to the 4 antifungal agents. However, a direct or straight line relationship has been observed between the minimal amounts of bile salts needed to inactivate graded concentrations of gentian violet, indicating thereby that the former, in some undetermined manner, exerts its effect upon the antimycotic itself rather than upon the fungus.