Oral care for the renal transplant patient

Renal transplant patients require immunosuppressive therapy, including a combination of prednisone, methylprednisone, azathioprine, antilymphocyte globulins, cyclosporine, and/or OKT 3. Consequently, they are vulnerable to opportunistic infections, especially in the oral cavity. The infections often seen are candida albicans and herpes simplex virus. Routine oral assessments and oral care need to be performed to provide maximum patient comfort and to prevent or minimize painful complications.