Presence of Candida, Mutans streptococci, and Lactobacilli in Thai participants

Objectives: To investigate the presence of Candida, Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli in a group of patients who attended the oral cancer (OC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) screening in local district hospital located in the northeastern region of Thailand.
Methods: Convenient participants residing in the lower northeastern districts of Thailand who attended the oral cancer screening were enrolled. A questionnaire retrieving demographic characteristics, risk factors of oral cancer, and risk of having xerostomia was completed. Oral examination was performed by oral medicine specialists or oral surgeons. Four groups of participants were categorized according to clinical diagnosis. These groups included the normal oral mucosa (NOM), the OPMDs/OC, the non-OPMDs/OC and the clinically suspected of oral candidiasis (CSOC) groups. Stimulated salivary flow rate was measured. Dip-slide test was performed using stimulated saliva in each participant to evaluate the presence of Candida, Mutans streptococci, and Lactobacilli. The levels of these 3 organisms were categorized into high and low levels according to the score received from the dip-slide test.
Results: A total of 599 participants were recruited. Approximately 50% of participants in the CSOC groups compared to 20%-30% of participants in the other groups had high Candida levels. For Mutans streptococci, 20-27% of participants in the 4 groups had high levels of Mutans streptococci. Twelve percent of participants in the CSOC group had high levels of Lactobacilli whereas 4%-6% of participants in the other groups had high Lactobacilli levels. The mean levels of Candida and Lactobacilli were also highest in the CSOC groups compared to the other groups.
Conclusions: Higher number of participants in the CSOC groups had high level of Candida and Lactobacilli. Close follow up may be needed in this group of participants.