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Listerine mouthwash reduces N. gonorrhoeae in mouths of MSM
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Listerine mouthwash substantially reduced the amount of gonorrhea in the mouths of men who have sex with men, according to data recently published in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
“Gonorrhea cases among MSM are increasing in many countries,” Eric P.F. Chow, MPH, PhD, of the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues wrote.
Chow and colleagues noted that most gonorrhea control programs focused on condom use, but said condom use was decreasing among Australian MSM due to HIV prevention measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis. The rising incidence of gonorrhea is likely to increase the incidence of resistant strains, the researchers wrote, making the need to find an intervention that did not involve condoms more urgent.
“The manufacturer [of Listerine] claimed in 1879 that Listerine could be used to cure gonorrhea in the pre-antibiotic era; however, there have been no published scientific studies to assess this,” the researchers wrote. “If Listerine has an inhibitory effect against N. gonorrhoeae in the pharynx, it could be a cheap, easy to use and potentially effective intervention for gonorrhea prevention and control in MSM.”
The researchers conducted an in vitro pilot study and a randomized controlled trial. The in vitro study consisted of adding suspensions of about 108 colony forming units/mL of pharyngeal N. gonorrhoeae to a series of dilutions of two Listerine (Johnson & Johnson) products: Cool Mint and Total Care. Dilutions of the mouthwashes ranged from 1:2 to 1:32, and researchers used phosphate-buffered saline as a control. Each suspension was exposed to the dilution for one minute. Exposure to the Listerine dilutions of up to 1:4 significantly reduced the amounts of N. gonorrhoeae, the researchers reported, while the saline solution had no inhibitory effect.
In the randomized trial held between May 2015 and February 2016, 58 MSM with untreated oral gonorrhea were randomly assigned to use Listerine (n = 33) or saline solution as a control (n = 25). Fifty-eight (30%) participants tested culture-positive before beginning the trial. The men in the Listerine group were less likely to be culture-positive after mouthwash use vs. the saline group, the researchers wrote (52% vs. 84%; P = .013).
“Our data provide preliminary evidence to support further investigation of mouthwash as a non-condom based control measure for gonorrhea,” the researchers wrote. “Listerine mouthwash is a cheap, easy to use and effective agent that inhibits gonorrhea growth and requires further careful consideration and study.” – by Andy Polhamus
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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