Effect of Various Bile Salts on the Anticandidal Activity of Amphotericin B and Gentian Violet and on the Anti staphylococcal Activity of Neomycin

Abstract

A MIXTURE of bile salts contained in ‘Bacto Bile Salts’ (Difco) has been found capable of: (a) neutralizing the anti-candidal activity of a number of anti-mycotic agents including amphotericin B and gentian violet¹; (b) potentiating the anti-staphylococcal activity of neomycin²; (c) effecting a mucin-like enhancement of intraperitoneal staphylococcal virulence for mice³. Considering the last, with the exception of sodium dehydrocholate, each salt contained in the bile salts mixture is capable of exerting this in vivo action⁴. Mucin, cholesterol and lecithin, which are present in unspecified amounts, also possess this same capability⁵. The work recorded here is concerned with the effectiveness of various bile salts as well as of mucin, cholesterol and lecithin on the first two in vitro activities already noted.