title: Candida oral colonization and infection in Brazilian patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy: a pilot study.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. brunocjham@yahoo.com.br <brunocjham@yahoo.com.br>
authors.forename: Bruno Correia
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jham
authors.forename: Esdras Campos
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Ricardo Reis
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Vagner Rodrigues
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Luiz Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Addah Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: da Silva Freire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies