Growth Inhibition in Candida albicans due to Low Intensity Constant Direct Current

Abstract

Electrical stimulation with weak constant direct currents is the treatment of choice for enhancement of wound healing. The use of a negative electrode placed in the wound has been reported to be successful in treating infected ulcers by inhibiting bacterial growth. The aim of our study was to examine the in vitro effects of a low intensity constant direct current, of 0.2 to ImA, applied for 2 to 18 hours on Candida albicans yeast. Electric current was applied using two systems: over Pt-Ir electrodes directly immersed in the culture medium and over agar bridges, which prevented the electrochemical reactions at the metal electrodes and their byproducts from influencing the microbe growth. It was found that even such weak direct currents inhibit the Candida albicans' growth. The inhibitory action was proportional to the magnitude and application time of the electric current.