Oral Candida colonization in patients with chronic periodontitis. Is there any relationship?

BACKGROUND:

Candida can be implicated in the pathology of chronic periodontitis.

AIMS:

To analyze the oral Candida carriage in patients suffering from chronic periodontitis and its correlation with the severity of this condition.

METHODS:

Microbiological samples were taken from 155 patients using the oral rinse technique and by using paper points in the periodontal pockets. These patients were divided into 3 groups: 89 patients without chronic periodontitis (control), 47 with moderate chronic periodontitis, and 19 with severe chronic periodontitis. Samples were cultured in a Candida chromogenic agar for Candida. Species were identified by microbiological and molecular methods.

RESULTS:

Candida was isolated in the oral rinse of 45 (50.6%), 21 (44.7%), and 11 (57.9%) patients, respectively, and in the paper points in the periodontal pockets of 32 (36%), 14 (29.2%), and 10 (42.6%) patients from the control, moderate chronic periodontitis and severe chronic periodontitis groups, respectively. Candida was isolated more frequently and in a greater burden in oral rinse than in paper points (p<0.01). Candida albicans was the most prevalent species. Paper points of patients with chronic periodontitis had poor fungal biodiversity (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Colonization by Candida was present in the samples of patients without chronic periodontitis, and with both moderate and severe chronic periodontitis. Nonetheless, patients with severe chronic periodontitis had a higher rate of Candida colonization, especially by Candida albicans.