Candida Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Candida, including details on thrush infections, yeast, diet, treatment, symptoms.

Candida oral colonization and infection in Brazilian patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a pilot study.

Jham BC, França EC, Oliveira RR, Santos VR, Kowalski LP, da Silva Freire AR

Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. brunocjham@yahoo.com.br <brunocjham@yahoo.com.br>

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify the profile of Candida species responsible for colonizing and infecting the oral cavity of Brazilian patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). STUDY DESIGN: Saliva samples were collected from 21 patients before, during, and immediately after RT. Each sample was distributed in agar Sabouraud dextrose/chlorophenicol and incubated at 37 degrees C for 18 hours. Emerging colonies were identified biochemically and through the germinative tube test. Patients were examined weekly to identify clinical candidiasis. RESULTS: Candida colonization continuously increased during RT. Infection occurred in 52% of the patients, and baseline colonization was higher in infected patients. A shift toward non-albicans species was observed in both infected and noninfected patients. CONCLUSIONS: RT leads to increased colonization and infection by Candida. The shift toward non-albicans species was unrelated to antifungal therapy. There may be epidemiological differences between infected and noninfected patients.

Published 26 February 2007 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 103(3): 355-8.
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