title: Oral Candidiasis among Cancer Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chennai, South India: An Evaluation of Clinicomycological Association and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern.
abstract: Oropharyngeal candidiasis is one of the common manifestations seen in cancer patients on cytotoxic therapy and invasion into deeper tissues can occur if not treated promptly. Emergence of antifungal drug resistance is of serious concern owing to the associated morbidity and mortality. The present study aims at evaluation of clinicomycological association and antifungal drug susceptibility among the 180 recruited patients with cancer on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with signs or symptoms suggestive of oral candidiasis. Speciation and antifungal susceptibility was done by Microbroth dilution method for fluconazole, Itraconazole, and Amphotericin B as per standard microbiological techniques. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). Candida albicans was the predominant species isolated (94) (58%) followed by Candida tropicalis (34) (20.9%). Fluconazole and Itraconazole showed an overall resistance rate of 14% and 14.8%, respectively. All the isolates were susceptible to Amphotericin B. There was a significant association between the presence of dry mouth and isolation of Candida (p < 0.001). Such clinicomicrobiological associations can help in associating certain symptoms with the isolation of Candida. Species level identification with in vitro antifungal susceptibility pattern is essential to choose the appropriate drug and to predict the outcome of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Madurantakam Taluk, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 603308, India.
authors.forename: Abirami Lakshmy
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5563-8760
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jayachandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600010, India.
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katragadda
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600010, India.
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thyagarajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600010, India.
authors.forename: Leela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vajravelu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600010, India.
authors.forename: Suganthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manikesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032, India.
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaliappan
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry 607402, India.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1306-9173
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jayachandran