Oral candidiasis in immunosuppressed children and young adults after liver or kidney transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Candidiasis is an infectious complication in organ transplant recipients resulting from the patients' immunodeficiency and virulence of fungi pathogens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Candida spp. and identify their presence in the oral lesions of graft recipients.


METHODS
This study included 185 patients, 1.5 to 25.2 years of age (mean = 13.1 +/- 4.2 years) who were receiving combined immunosuppression treatment after kidney or liver transplantation and 70 control subjects. Evaluation included clinical oral examination, mycology, and statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Candida spp. colonies were found in the oral mucosa of 63 (34%) graft recipients and in 19 (27%) control subjects. Candida albicans was the most prevalent species. This study showed that, regardless of the type of the organ transplant and immunosuppression, frequent, regular oral follow-up and mycologic tests are recommended. Diagnosing increased density of Candida spp. colonies in the oral cavity will help initiate early antifungal treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Candida spp. prevalence in the oral cavity in transplant recipients was higher than in immunocompetent control subjects. Kidney or liver transplantation predisposes one to the development of an increased density of Candida spp. colonies.
Olczak-Kowalczyk
Dorota
D
Department of Oral Pathology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland. d.olczak-kowalczyk@czd.pl
Pawłowska
Joanna
J
Garczewska
Barbara
B
Smirska
Ewa
E
Grenda
Ryszard
R
Syczewska
Małgorzata
M
Kowalczyk
Wojciech
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007223:Infant; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents