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Abstract

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

Candida

species are the major human fungal pathogens that cause both mucosal and deep-tissue infections. Fungal infections have been successfully treated by systemic antifungal agents for a very long time. The toxicity of available antifungals and resistance to these drugs are a concern; thus, the use of probiotics has emerged as an alternative therapeutic technique for treating

Candida

infections.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the prevalence of oral

Candida

organisms in denture wearers with different age groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Sixty completely edentulous denture wearers were divided into three groups: 50–59 years (Group A), 60–69 years (Group B), and 70 years and above (Group C). The sample collected from the denture surface and palatal mucosa pre- and postprobiotic usage were subjected to CHROMagar followed by Germ tube test and then Corn meal agar for identification and counting the number of

Candida

colonies. The attributed scores were tabulated and submitted for statistical analysis using Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test, Mann–Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test, and paired

t

-test.

RESULTS:

Reduction in the number of

Candida

colonies was statistically significant in Group A and Group B on the denture surface as compared to that of Group C. However, there was no significant difference observed in all the three groups in the number of

Candida

colonies on the palatal mucosa.

CONCLUSION:

The study shows that multispecies probiotic product may represent as an alternative treatment for reduction of

Candida

infections in the oral cavity of elderly denture wearers.

Pages

136

Last Page

145

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