A prospective randomized trial to reduce oral Candida spp. colonization in patients with hyposalivation

ABSTRACT

Low salivary flow rates are associated with higher oral Candida spp. counts, which may predispose to oral candidiasis. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of stimulating salivary flow rates with that of a regimen of chlorhexidine mouth rinse on the intensity of Candida colonization in patients with reduced salivary flow rates. Thirty-one outpatients were randomized to stimulate salivary output (group 1) or to receive chlorhexidine mouth rinses (group 2). Evaluations were performed at baseline (T0), at end of treatment (T1), and 15 days after last day of treatment (T2). Chewing-stimulated whole saliva samples were collected at each visit. Group 1 showed a constant reduction in median cfu counts, although the difference was significant only between T0 and T2 (p = 0.004). Group 2 showed a reduction in median Candida cfu counts between T0 and T1 (p = 0.01), but the counts increased at T2 (p = 0.01), and the difference between T0 and T2 was not significant (p = 0.8). In conclusion, patients who received salivary stimulation showed reductions of Candida cfu counts in saliva and a trend for increasing salivary flow rates between baseline and end of study evaluations. The use of chlorhexidine mouth rinses dramatically reduced Candida cfu counts, but when patients discontinued treatment, intensity of colonization rose again.

RESUMO

O fluxo salivar reduzido está associado a maior quantidade de Candida spp. na boca, predispondo a candidíase. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o efeito da estimulação salivar ao efeito do uso de bochechos de clorexidina sobre a intensidade de colonização por Candida em pacientes com fluxo salivar reduzido. Trinta e um pacientes de ambulatório foram aleatoriamente incluídos nos protocolos de estimulação salivar (grupo 1) ou de bochecho com clorexidina (grupo 2). As avaliações foram realizadas no dia inicial (T0), ao final do tratamento (T1) e 15 dias após o final do tratamento (T2). A cada consulta foram coletadas amostras de saliva total estimulada. O grupo 1 mostrou uma redução constante nas contagens medianas de UFC de Candida, embora a diferença estatística tenha sido apenas entre T0 e T2 (p = 0,004). O grupo 2 mostrou redução nas contagens de UFC de Candida entre T0 e T1 (p = 0,01), mas a contagem de UFC aumentou em T2 (p = 0,01), sendo a diferença entre T0 e T2 não significante (p = 0,8). Concluiu-se que os pacientes que realizaram procedimentos de estimulação salivar apresentaram a quantidade de UFC de Candida salivar reduzida, além de apresentarem tendência ao aumento do fluxo. O uso de bochechos de clorexidina reduziu drasticamente a quantidade de UFC de Candida salivar, mas após o final do tratamento houve novo aumento.