ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors associated with oral infections in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 241 patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy between March 2012 and May 2014 in sichuan cancer hospital were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors related to oral infection occurring in the patients. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ninety-three (38.59%) of 241 cases had oral infection. Among the 93 cases, 49 (52.69%) cases presented with fungal infections, 44 (47.31%) cases with bacterial infection, and 38 (40.86%) cases with mixed infection. Oral infection occurred since the fifth week after radiotherapy in 55 (59.14%) patients. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for oral infection after radiotherapy were the late stage of cancer, poor oral health habits, the coexistence of multiple treatments, city dwellers and surgical history (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Oral infections commonly occur in the late period of radiotherapy. The late stage of cancer, poor oral health habits, the coexistence of multiple treatments, city dwellers and surgical history are key risk factors for oral infection in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy.</p>