Salivary Candida albicans in asthmatic patients taking anti-asthmatic medication

Abstract

Anti-asthmatic medication makes the oral habitat susceptible to opportunistic infections like Candida, causing oral candidiasis. This study aimed to estimate salivary Candida Albicans in asthmatic patients taking anti-asthmatics medication. A prospective study was performed at the Oral Pathology and Microbiology Department of S.B. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Bidar, Karnataka, India, between June 2018 to November 2018. The research comprised a total of 100 individuals, 50 of whom were asthmatics, and 50 healthy controls who were age and sex-matched to the asthmatics. Saliva was collected for 5-10 minutes in a sterile container, and samples were transferred to the laboratory in cold chain conditions. Serial dilution was prepared for the saliva samples, and 50:1 standard dilution was inoculated on SAD (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar) culture media by lawn culture method. Some part of the culture plate was inoculated with Candida organisms. 32 people had candida growth, and 18 individuals did not have any candidal development at all. 18 people were in the 400 CFU/ml group, and 32 individuals were in the 401 CFU/ml group, respectively. It was 0.000 in the 400 colony forming unit/milliliter group, and 27200 in the 401 CFU/ml group, with 0.00 being the median. There was a notable difference between study and control groups in terms of colony forming unit per milliliter (P=0.000). The growth of Candida in asthmatics patients is very high compared to healthy people. Anti-asthmatic medication makes the oral habitat prone to attack from opportunistic infections like oral candidiasis.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Sabouraud Dextrose Agar; anti-asthmatic medication; asthma.