DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2018.v05i12.003

Pages: 539-544

Candida species constitute part of the oral harmless commensal flora in about 2–70% of the general population but disequilibrium in the homeostasis between Candida, host immune system and normal oral bacterial flora favors Candida virulence which causes damage to the tissues which may increase the risk of a premalignant and malignant lesion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Candida infections in patients with history of habits, Oral leukoplakia and history of Oral Squamous cell carcinoma in comparision to healthy indiviuals. The present study included 20 patients with habits, 20 patients with premalignant lesions, 20 patients with known case of cancer and 20 healthy controls. A detailed history of each patient was recorded along with a clinical examination. Samples were collected with the swab and oral rinse technique, cultured on Sabouraud’s agar medium. The isolated yeast species were identified based on Gram staining, a Germ tube test, Hichrome Candidal differential agar for speciation. Of the 80 samples collected Candida was isolated in 30 specimens. Out of 30 positive Candida species 21 was Candida albicans 06 was Candida glabrata and 03 were Candida tropicalis. Candida species were most isolated in Group IV ie Oral Carcinoma 11 (36.6%) followed by group III ie Oral leukoplakia. The incidence of Candida (primarily C. albicans) was maximum in Oral Carcinoma 11 (36.6%) followed by Oral leukoplakia. The findings of the present study suggest that elevated Candidal carriage were seen in patients with potentially malignant disorders and OSCC. Hence there must be a possible association between the developments of oral squamous cell carcinoma in potentially malignant oral lesions with chronic candidal infection due to Candida-associated malignant transformation”