title: Presence of Candida albicans in Root Canals of Teeth with Apical Periodontitis and Evaluation of their Possible Role in Failure of Endodontic Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candidal organisms are commensals of the oral cavity and their opportunistic infection depends on the interplay of local and systemic factors. Endodontic treatment failure has been associated with the persistence of microbial flora following therapy in the root canal system, and this includes fungi like Candida, which are resistant to conventional root canal irrigants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 mandibular molars were included in the study of which 15 were primary randomized controlled trial cases, whereas 5 were retreatment cases. The patient's saliva, as well as the root canal flora, were examined for the presence of Candida organisms and further confirmed for the presence of Candida albicans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 20 samples comprising the study group, the saliva culture revealed 11 of them to have a colony forming unit (CFU) >400 and 9 of the 20 canals microbiology showed CFU >400. Among the 15 first-time root canal treatment cases, saliva examination these revealed 8 of them to have CFU >400 and the canal microbiology of these showed 6 of them to have CFU >400. Among the retreatment cases, 3 of the 5 cases showed CFU >400 in both the saliva DN canal culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Candidal contamination of the root canals could be the cause of endodontic treatment failure and thus emphasizes the importance of rubber dam isolation and the use of irrigants with antifungal properties for sufficient duration during treatment.
authors: Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, The Oxford Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Kumar
authors: Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Theerthankar Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Rohit
authors: R
authors: Sharma
authors: Reader, Department of Prosthodontics, Theerthankar Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Madhurima
authors: M
authors: Sharma
authors: Reader, Department of Orthodontics, Raja Rajeshwari Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Prabhavathi
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Science, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Paul
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors: Chava Deepak
authors: CD
authors: Chowdary
keywords: Candida albicans; randomized controlled trial; root canal irrigants; rubber dam isolation