Correlation between demographic and clinical variables and the incidence of oral <em>Candida</em> colonization in cancer patients

Introduction: Cancer patients are highly vulnerable to Candida infections due to their impaired immunity, as the over-colonization of Candida is common among immunocompromised individuals. The occurrence of Candida overgrowth is influenced by several factors that can weaken the host's immune system and promote the growth of opportunistic fungal pathogens. Comorbidities, use of certain medications, lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as oral hygiene and overall oral health, can all affect Candida proliferation in the mouth. These factors may cause dysbiosis in the oral cavity, creating conditions favourable for the overgrowth of Candida. This study assessed these variables to determine their potential as contributing factors for the carriage of Candida in the oral cavity. Methods: Oral rinse samples and swab samples were obtained from cancer patients attending Oncology Clinics, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya (National Hospital Galle), from December 2021 to March 2022. Each sample was screened for Candida using a selective medium, followed by morphological and biochemical identification. The demographic and clinical data were obtained from all the study participants. The association between the oral Candida colonization and the demographic and clinical data of the study population was assessed using the chi-square test. Results: Candida in the oral cavity was substantially correlated with denture wear (p=0.041). Remarkably, no statistically significant correlations were found between comorbid factors, use of oral and inhaled corticosteroid therapy, frequency of tooth brushing, smoking, alcohol consumption, betel chewing, dental caries and oral Candida carriage. Conclusions: Wearing dentures was significantly associated with oral Candida carriage among the selected group of cancer patients while there were no other significant associations were found with the other factors tested.