The relationship between tobacco smoking and oral colonization with Candida species.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess and compare the quantitative and qualitative oral colonization of Candida species between a group of healthy tobacco smokers and a comparable group of nonsmokers, and to investigate a possible correlation between oral candidal colonization and the quantity or duration of the smoking habit.


METHODS
Fifty smokers and 50 nonsmokers were included in the study. Candida species were isolated using the concentrated oral rinse (COR) technique and identified using the germ tube test and API 20 C AUX yeast identification system.


RESULTS
Overall candidal transmission was 84 percent. Candida species were isolated from 42 (84 percent) of the smokers and 37 (74 percent) of the nonsmokers (p>0.05). The mean CFU/ml were 333 (SD=358) and 268 (SD=332), respectively (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tobacco smoking did not appear to increase oral colonization with Candida species in healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of smoking on oral tissues and the mechanisms by which Candida proliferate intra-orally as a result of cigarette smoking warrant additional study.
Darwazeh
Azmi Mohammad-Ghaleb
AM
Department of Oral Medicine and Surgery at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. darwazeh@just.edu.jo
Al-Dwairi
Ziad Nawaf
ZN
Al-Zwairi
Abd Al-Wahab
AA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult