RESUMEN
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Candida species in the saliva of patients with clinically suspected oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and healthy cohorts. Material and Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from patients with OPMD (n=100) and age and sex matched healthy subjects (n=170). The samples were inoculated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and incubated for a week. The colonies of the isolates were enumerated using a colony counter. The isolates were identified using standard phenotypic methods. The significance of oral candidal carriage was calculated using Independent T test. Odds and Risk ratio was calculated using Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: Oral candida carriage was present in 51% of patients with OPMD while healthy cohorts had a prevalence of 20.6%. A good statistical significance was observed for the prevalence of oral candidal carriage for patients with OPMD in comparison to healthy cohorts (p=0.013). Significant Odds and risk ratio was observed for the prevalence of Candida species among OPMD. Majority of the isolates in both groups were C. albicans. Colony forming units were high among patients with OPMD. Conclusion: A significant association of oral candidal carriage to oral potentially malignant disorders in comparison to healthy cohorts was observed. Candidal species may be potent risk factor for transition of OPMD to oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.