Oral colonization by Candida spp. among AIDS household contacts

This study was designed to investigate the oral yeast colonization rate of household contacts of AIDS patients. Sixty-four AIDS household contacts wer e sequentially enrolled along with 103 HIV-negative blood bank donors (cont rol group). Samples were obtained by swabbing the oral mucosa. Yeast isolat es were identified by classical methods and antifungal susceptibility testi ng was performed according to NCCLS microbroth assay. Candida spp. was reco vered from the oral cavity of 33% of the AIDS household contacts, in contra st with 14% of the control group (P = 0.003 or P = 0.04 after adjusting for oral prosthesis use). Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated sp ecies in both groups. All of the isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole. In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate a higher colonization rate in the AIDS household contacts group compared wit h the control group. No resistant isolates to antifungal drugs was observed . We suggest that the contact with AIDS patients may play a role as a risk factor for developing oral colonization by Candida spp.