title: Oral lesions and colonization by yeasts in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic kidney disease, stage 5, undergoing hemodialysis treatment are frequently colonized by yeasts, with high chance of developing fungal infections. The objective of this study was to assess the presence of yeasts in the oral cavity of these individuals, associating findings with the presence of oral lesions and the use of dental prostheses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical examinations of the oral mucosa were performed in 52 patients, when the use of removable dental prostheses and the presence of oral lesions were observed and recorded. Saliva samples were collected to identify yeast specimens and colony-forming units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colonization by yeasts was found in 42.31% of the patients, 100% of which belonging to the genus Candida, with the predominance of C. albicans (69.23%). Half of the patients (26) presented some type of oral lesion, the majority (63.33%) suggestive of candidiasis, which was confirmed in 57.89% of cases. The chance that these patients carried yeast colonies in the presence of dental prostheses and oral lesions was 6.33 and 2.62 times higher, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients investigated in this study presented a high incidence of yeasts in the oral cavity, with those with oral lesions and dental prostheses being more likely to carry yeasts. When oral lesions are detected in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, particularly in those who are prosthesis users, early diagnosis and treatment of this type of lesion, in association with systemic investigations, should be performed to mitigate possible unfavorable prognoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pieralisi
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Maringá, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Terezinha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Svidzinski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000382:microbiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: chronic kidney disease; dental prostheses; fungal infections; hemodialysis; oral candidiasis; stage 5