Effect of low level laser on the number of Candida albicans colonies in vitro study: a new finding

Objective Candida albicans is a commensal organism that causes a wide variety of diseases in human. A high recurrence rate has been reported for vaginal and oral candidiasis, in spite of the best available treatments. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of low-level laser irradiation and nystatin on the growth of C. albicans. Methods Candida albicans with concentration of 10(4) and 10(6) viable cells per ml was prepared and incubated. Subjects were divided into four groups: Control, laser for 30 s, laser for 60 s and nystatin. The control group was cultured without intervention. The second group was irradiated with laser 940 nm for 30 s and the third group for 60 s and then cultivation was taken from each group. Nystatin was added to the fourth group and then samples of the mixtures were obtained at 30 and 60 s after addition, were plated. Finally, the number of colonies (CFU/mL) were counted and compared. Results The effectiveness of laser at a concentration of 10(4), significantly increased the number of colonies in the irradiated group, so that the number of colonies at 30 s was more than the number of colonies at 60 s. Also, the number of colonies was more in the concentration of 10(6) and 60 s. Nystatin left 0 CFU/mL colonies in the plated samples of all the suspensions. Conclusion Laser therapy leads to increased growth of Candida in media. No significant difference was observed in different laser group.