title: Epidemiology and prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis in Spanish patients with head and neck tumors undergoing radiotherapy treatment alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) prevalence in Spanish patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy. Secondary objectives were to determine the prevalence of Candida species colonization, and to explore whether different Candida species colonizing the oral cavity and the treatment were associated with a higher prevalence of OPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study, conducted in Spanish radiation oncology units. Patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and started a radiotherapy treatment alone or combined with chemotherapy at the moment of their inclusion (N = 92).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OPC prevalence was 26 %. The identification of colonizing pathogens was performed in 49 patients, and Candida albicans was the dominant yeast (69 %), while non-albicans Candida was only found in 15 patients (31 %). Patients with C. albicans colonization had a significant higher prevalence of OPC compared to patients colonized by non-albicans Candida (p = 0.0273), but no difference was found regarding the OPC prevalence in patients receiving only radiotherapy compared to patients with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data represent a step further in the knowledge of Candida species present in Spanish patients with head and neck tumors under radiation therapy. This is an essential step to manage the prophylaxis and treatment of OPC, since it might lead to severe clinical complications causing treatment interruption and, thus, representing a reduction in anti-tumor efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. amanas.hulp@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mañas
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerezo
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Torre
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alburquerque
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludeña
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: Aurea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manso
authors.forename: Luis Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Glaria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology