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Inhaled corticosteroid aerosols and candidiasis
British Journal of Diseases of the Chest
|April 1, 1979
Summary
Inhaled corticosteroid asthma medication increased oral thrush risk, but candidiasis remained mild. A mouthwash did not prevent this common side effect in patients using betamethasone valerate aerosol.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Mycology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Asthma management often involves inhaled corticosteroids.
- Inhaled corticosteroids can potentially alter the oral microbiome.
- Oral Candida carriage and candidiasis are known side effects of some corticosteroid therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of oral Candida carriage and thrush in asthma patients using betamethasone valerate aerosol.
- To determine if a mouthwash procedure could prevent oral candidiasis in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- A three-month controlled study.
- Patients received 800 microgram/day of betamethasone valerate aerosol.
- Oral Candida carriage assessed via saliva cultures.
- Thrush incidence was monitored.
- A mouthwash intervention was tested in a subgroup.
Main Results:
- Four out of 41 patients on betamethasone valerate aerosol developed thrush.
- No thrush cases were observed in the 40 control patients.
- Oral Candida albicans carriage increased by approximately 20% in both the corticosteroid and control groups.
- The mouthwash procedure offered no significant prophylactic benefit.
Conclusions:
- Betamethasone valerate aerosol use is associated with an increased incidence of oral thrush.
- Despite increased carriage and incidence, oral candidiasis was not clinically significant.
- Standard mouthwash is ineffective in preventing this side effect.