Assessment of oral status and oro-pharyngeal candidosis in elderly in short-term hospital care.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate prevalence of oral candidosis and predisposing conditions in hospitalized elderly patients.

DESIGN

We examined 104 elder patients recently hospitalized in two geriatric hospitals for shortterm hospital care.

METHODS

Information was collected on patients' sex, age, mental and physical disabilities, smoking habits, medical prescriptions, oral pathologies, denture wearing, oral hygiene habits and oral hygiene level. Quality of existing dentures was evaluated. Oral mucosae were examined for clinical signs suggesting oral candidosis. Semiquantitative cultures of Candida were carried out to confirm the clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of oral candidosis was confirmed in 18/54 patients showing clinical signs of oral candidosis. Confirmed oral candidosis was associated with the presence of other infections, proteo-caloric denutrition, ongoing antibiotic therapy, and denture wearing. Dentures in patients with confirmed oral candidosis at poorer technical quality of the acrylic surface in contact with the underlying mucosa.

CONCLUSION

The wearing of removable dentures is a major predisposing factor for oro-pharyngeal candidosis of elderly patients in short-term hospital care. Appropriate oral and denture hygiene measures as well as denture wearing habits should be introduced or maintained to prevent this infection.