title: Prevalence of Candida dubliniensis among oral Candida isolates in patients attending the Kuwait University Dental Clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the oral candidal carriage of patients seeking dental treatment at the Kuwait University Dental Clinic and to ascertain the Candida species composition among them.
  
  
  METHODS
  370 oral rinse samples were collected from patients. The germ tube test, CHROMagar Candida medium and VITEK 2 yeast identification system were used for species identification. C. dubliniensis isolates were confirmed by the production of rough colonies with hyphal fringes and chlamydospores on simplified sunflower seed agar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 370 samples investigated, 160 (43.24%) showed Candida in culture. The isolation of Candida was significantly higher in individuals who were smokers or were under medication for either diabetics or asthma [99 (62%)] compared to healthy individuals [61 (38%)]. Of the 210 samples which did not yield Candida, 131 (62.38%) were healthy and 79 (37.62%) were associated with smoking or with usage of drugs for aforementioned conditions. Species isolated were C. albicans [102 (63.7%)], C. dubliniensis [23(14.3%)], C. krusei [13 (8.1%)], C. tropicalis [12 (7.5%)] and C. glabrata [10 (6.2%)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Candida species were more prevalent in patients having predisposing factors implicated in oral candidosis, such as in smokers, diabetic patients and asthmatic patients using inhalation steroids. C. albicans was the most prevalent species isolated, followed by C. dubliniensis.
authors: Department of Bioclinical, Faculty of Dentistry, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait. arjuna@hsc.edu.kw
authors: Arjuna N B
authors: AN
authors: Ellepola
authors: Zia U
authors: ZU
authors: Khan
authors: Bobby
authors: B
authors: Joseph
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Chandy
authors: Leeba
authors: L
authors: Philip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003740:Dental Clinics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents