Candidal speciation and carriage in oral cavity of HIV-positive children/adults and healthy individuals in the South Canara district of India: a comparative study.

Objective: Candidiasis, an opportunistic infection that is prevalent in HIV-positive children and adults, is caused by various Candida species, Candida albicans along with certain non-albicans Candida species. The prevalence of these species varies across age groups due to multiple factors. Identification of these species becomes necessary as any antifungal therapy requires species-specific targeting to manage candidiasis effectively. With this background, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and speciation of Candida in HIV-positive children (n = 30) and adults (n = 40) and to compare these findings with those in healthy individuals. Ten mL saliva was collected from HIV-positive and HIV-negative (healthy) patients and cultured on CHROMAgar™.

Results: The proportion and quantity of candidal colonization was higher in HIV-positive children (93.30%) as compared to adults (67.50%). An increased profile of Nakaseomyces glabrata (previously Candida glabrata) was seen in children while the adults showed increase in colonization of C. tropicalis. The shift in profiles of species from Candida albicans to 'non-albicans' Candida species is of clinical relevance as it directly impacts on the antimicrobial efficacy of chosen anti-fungal agents.