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The Provox™ voice prosthesis and Candida albicans growth: a preliminary report of clinical, mycological and scanning electron microscopic assessment

Abstract Provox™ voice prostheses are low-resistance speech valves available since 1990 for post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation. Candida spp. mycelial growth has always been a major problem in all prosthetic valves causing leakage and limiting valve life. We found that the Provox™ new valves were not exempt from the old problem. We performed a preliminary clinical, mycological and scanning electron microscopic assessment of Candida spp. growth on these valves. In contrast to studies done with other valves we found that the Candida mycelium on these new valves was a surface colony rather than growing into the valve substance, thus it might be feasible to control the mycelial growth by either mechanical cleansing or by using topical anti-fungal agents.