The antimicrobioal agents, taurolidine, chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine were examined for microbial anti-adherence activity. Two adherence systems were investigated using light microscopic and radio-isotopic assay methods: that of an oral isolate of Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells and of a urine isolate of Escherichia coli to human uroepithelial cells. Each of the three agents exhibited significant anti-adherence activity which was concentration dependent. The activity was expressed at subminimum inhibitory concentrations of the agents. Treatment of either the microbial or epithelial cells resulted in significant reductions in adhering micro-organisms. Consideration of the data in respect of the skewness coefficient and percentage clear epithelial cells indicated that the agents exhibited a broadly based anti-adherence capacity.