Candida colonization of the oral cavity.

ABSTRACT

A quantitative study of candida colonization of the oral cavity was made in 20 normal persons, 20 patients receiving regular dialysis treatment, 21 patients who underwent operation and were in a general surgical ward and in 20 critically ill patients who had undergone operation and were in an intensive therapy unit. Candida colonization was common in the patients who had operations, and levels were highest in those receiving antibiotics. However, the administration of antibiotics was not the only factor accounting for high candida colonization, since many of the patients studied, receiving regular dialysis treatment and antibiotic therapy, had only low levels of colonization. Candida levels in the oral cavity were highest in the critically ill patients, two of whom had candida infection of the oral cavity and one patient who had systemic candidiasis. Within this group, candida colonization was not significantly different, according to the clinical outcome or the response to recall antigens. This increased candida colonization of the oral cavity may be important in the development of candida infection in these patients.