Method: The oral cavity of 52 CRF patients, randomly selected, were examined physically, detecting mucosal injury. Microbiological sample of saliva was collected by rinsing with saline. Culture was performed on Sabouraud dextrose agar and sorting by color and appearance of colonies grown on CHROMagar Candida ®. Identification was made according to the classical methodology by including the morphology cultured on cornmeal agar plus 1% Tween 80, the proof of the germ tube and confirmation of the species by the profile of assimilation of carbon and nitrogen and carbohydrate fermentation.
Result: Among the patients 42.31% were colonized by yeast, which (63.33%) patients had some oral lesion. This association was positive, with crude odds ratio of 3.66. The use of dental prosthesis and age were considered confounders, according to multivariate analysis. All belonged to the genus Candida yeast, with a predominance of C. albicans (69.23%).
Conclusion: It was found a high prevalence of Candida spp in the oral cavity of patients with CRF, positively associated with the presence of oral lesions. Considering the risk of colonization progress to fungal infections, severe and often fatal, and the few studies relating to the microbiological aspects with oral lesions of these patients, we hope that our study may help to elucidate the influence of oral yeasts in the quality of life of patients with CRF.
Financial Support: Araucária Foundation