title: The Changing Epidemiology of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Patients with HIV/AIDS in the Era of Antiretroviral Therapy.
abstract: The impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on opportunistic conditions in HIV patients continues to evolve. We specifically studied the changing epidemiology of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in 215 HIV/AIDS patients. Status of yeast colonization was assessed from oral rinse samples, and preliminary yeast identification was made using CHROMagar Candida and confirmed with standard microbiological techniques and/or molecular sequencing. Susceptibility to fluconazole was determined by CHROMagar Candida agar dilution screening and CLSI broth microdilution. 176 (82%) patients were colonized and 59 (27%) patients had symptomatic OPC. Candida albicans was the most prevalent species, though C. glabrata and C. dubliniensis were detected in 29% of isolates. Decreased fluconazole susceptibility occurred in 10% of isolates. Previous ART reduced the risk of OPC, while smoking increased the risk of colonization. Oral yeast colonization and symptomatic infection remain common even with advances in HIV therapy. C. albicans is the most common species, but other yeasts are prevalent and may have decreased susceptibility to fluconazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Payal K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Erlandsen
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Westbrook
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louden
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vallor
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wickes
authors.forename: Nathan P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Wiederhold
authors.forename: Spencer W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Redding
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Patterson