Candidal infections:experience in a British dental hospital

Laboratory and clinical records for a period of 12 months were studied to determine the number of patients investigated for a Candida-related disorder. Of the specimens received from 146 patients, eighty-eight yielded Candida on direct culture and a further twelve isolations were made from Sabouraud's enrichment broth. Smears stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent gave fewer positive results than culture. Denture stomatitis and angular cheilitis were most commonly encountered; 69% and 77%, respectively, yielded Candida on culture. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 28% of the cases of angular cheilitis. Other forms of candidosis were less frequently encountered but yielded Candida more reliably on culture. Ninety-five patients received anticandidal therapy, and 56% showed clinical improvement within 1 month; 13% of the treated patients required treatment for more than 1 year.