Candida prevalence in the saliva of controlled and uncontrolled diabetic patients – A clinical study

Context: Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The health of oral tissue is related to saliva and both the composition and flow of saliva are altered in diabetic patients. Aim: This study aims to assess the prevalence of Candida in diabetic patients and non-diabetic controls and to assess the relationship between the candidal carriage and glycemic control, the relationship between the oral prevalence of Candida species, and clinical candidal infection, and the effect of antidiabetic therapy and smoking on candidal infection. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on 100 diabetic and 50 non-diabetic (control) patients. Methods and Material: Saliva samples were collected and the concentrated oral rinse technique was used for quantitative oral candidal isolation. A digital colony counter enumerated several candidal colonies on each plate. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney test are used. Results: Colony-forming units (CFU/ml) in diabetics were 3131.14 and in control was 986.8. Out of 55 diet control patients, 30 had a candidal carrier; out of 44 patients on oral hypoglycemic, 30 had candidal carrier; and out of 1 patient on insulin, 1 had a candidal carrier. Out of 19 diabetics (good control), 8 had candidal carrier; out of 28 (moderate control), 12 had candidal carrier; and out of 53 (poor control), 41 had a candidal carrier. Out of 14 smokers, 8 had candidal carriers, and out of 36 nonsmokers, 11 had candidal carriers. Conclusions: Diabetic patients carry a higher number of candida in their oral cavity