No abstract

Low salivary flow rates are associated with higher oral Candida spp. counts, which may predispose to oral candidiasis. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of stimulating salivary flow rates with that of a regimen of chlorhexidine mouth rinse on the intensity of Candida colonization in patients with reduced salivary flow rates. Thirty-one outpatients were randomized to stimulate salivary output (group 1) or to receive chlorhexidine mouth rinses (group 2). Evaluations were performed at baseline (T0), at end of treatment (T1), and 15 days after last day of treatment (T2). Chewing-stimulated whole saliva samples were collected at each visit. Group 1 showed a constant reduction in median cfu counts, although the difference was significant only between T0 and T2 (p = 0.004). Group 2 showed a reduction in median Candida cfu counts between T0 and T1 (p = 0.01), but the counts increased at T2 (p = 0.01), and the difference between T0 and T2 was not significant (p = 0.8). In conclusion, patients who received salivary stimulation showed reductions of Candida cfu counts in saliva and a trend for increasing salivary flow rates between baseline and end of study evaluations. The use of chlorhexidine mouth rinses dramatically reduced Candida cfu counts, but when patients discontinued treatment, intensity of colonization rose again.

In order to investigate the clinical factors that might influence the diversity and the degree of Candida species carriage in saliva, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 133 patients with complaints of xerostomia. Anamnesis, oral examination and collection of chewing-stimulated whole saliva were performed. The samples of saliva were kept refrigerated until they were plated onto CHROMagar Candida; cfu were counted and Candida species were identified by standard methods. There was a high prevalence of mixed Candida colonization. No relationship was found between total Candida cfu counts and variables like gender, age, place of origin, underlying diseases, exposure to medications (except antibiotics), daily habits and salivary flow rates. Oral candidiasis, antibiotic exposure and dental prosthesis wearing were associated with relatively high Candida counts in saliva. Low salivary flow rates predisposed to intense colonization by C. albicans and C. parapsilosis.

The article by Lima et al.1 published in a recent edition provides relevant information about the prevalence of oral manifestations in children infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

comprometimento, visando sempre o aprimoramento do ensino. À banca de defesa composta pela Profª. Drª. Andreia Cristina Breda de Souza e Prof. Dr. Felippe Bevilacqua Prado, e aos suplentes, Profa. Dra. Dagmar de Paula Queluz e Profª. Drª. Monikelly do Carmo Nascimento Marchini pela contribuição dada ao meu trabalho. À banca de qualificação composta pela Profa. Dra. Deborah Queiroz de Freitas França, Prof. Dr. Yuri Nejaim e Prof. Dr. Francisco Carlos Groppo pelas suas considerações que possibilitaram o aprimoramento da minha dissertação. Aos funcionários da Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba. Aos funcionários da Radiologia Odontológica, em especial a Luciane Sattolo, pela dedicação e disponibilidade em auxiliar quando necessário. A todos os alunos do programa de Radiologia Odontológica, em especial, Yuri Nejaim e Leonardo Vieira Peroni por toda atenção, colaboração, apoio e por terem tornarem o mestrado muito mais agradável, e Hugo Gaeta pela presteza constante.