title: Comparison of techniques to evaluate the quantification of Candida spp. in HIV-infected children.
abstract: This study sought to compare techniques used to make a quantified evaluation of Candida spp. in children infected with HIV. Twenty-four HIV-infected children (age 3 to 13) were selected. Three sterilized swabs were used for each child: one for the dorsum of the tongue, one for the hard palate mucosa, and one for the right jugal mucosa; each swab was rubbed for 10 seconds and transferred to sterilized test tubes containing 1 mL of 0.9% saline solution. Candida spp. growth was observed in 95.8% of all samples, including 95.7% of tongue samples (Group T), 87.0% of saliva samples, 56.6% of hard palate mucosa samples (Group P), and 47.8% of right jugal mucosa samples (Group J). There was no statistical difference in Candida spp. growth between saliva samples and Group T samples, although both had higher growth compared to Groups P and J (p < 0.05; chi(2)). Regarding the sensitivity of each site for positive Candida spp. growth, Group T samples showed 69.5%, while saliva samples showed 52.2%, Group P samples showed 21.7%, and Group J samples showed 13.04%, with no significant statistical difference between Group T and saliva; however, both were more sensitive than Groups J and P (p < 0.05, chi(2)). It was concluded that whole stimulated saliva and swabbing the tongue were considered satisfactory for measuring Candida spp. in HIV-infected children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniella Ferraz
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.forename: Maristela Barbosa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Rosangela Maria De Araujo
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Ivete Pomarico Ribeiro
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Gloria Fernanda
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology