Abstract
Objectives:
Our goals were to determine whether a bovine milk product containing anti–Candida albicans immunoglobulin A antibodies (“immune milk”) could reduce the adherence of C albicans to voice prosthesis silicone in vitro, and whether administration of the milk could reduce C albicans colonization and voice prosthesis damage in vivo.
Methods:
An in vitro assay of C albicans attachment to silicone was developed with radiolabeled C albicans. A pilot crossover in vivo trial, over 3 periods of 3 months, was also undertaken for 4 patients with voice prostheses, comparing daily administrations of immune milk and a control milk product. The prosthesis valves were replaced at each change-over and were assessed for wet weight of removable biofilm, yeast numbers in removable biofilm, valve leakage, and valve damage.
Results:
Immune milk inhibited C albicans adherence to silicone in vitro. However, in a small clinical pilot study, this effect was not replicated.
Conclusions:
There is scope to further investigate the topical use of immune milk for management of voice prosthesis biofilms.
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