an investigation on the relationship between oral candidal colony count and the duration of hemodialysis

statement of problem: candidal colonies make up a part of natural oral flora and are considered as predisposing factors for opportunistic infections. since hemodialysis leads to body immune suppression and make patients susceptible to opportunistic infections, it is useful to investigate the relationship between hemodialysis and such infections.purpose: the aim of the present research was to study the relationship between oral candidal colony count and duration of hemodialysis and also to investigate the probable necessity for prophylaxis against oral candidiasis. factors such as oral temperature, age, sex, denture, smoking, drugs, candidal microscopic view and clinical signs of oral infections, were also studied in relation to candidal colonies.material and methods: the smear of posterior part of tongue and oral fluids from 114 hemodialysis patients in khorshid hospital, isfahan university of medical sciences were cultured. the number of oral candidal colonies and their microscopic view were studied in relation to the duration of hemodialysis and other factors. to analyze the data, pearson and spearman statistical tests were used.results: no statistical significant relationship was observed between oral candidal colony count and the duration of hemodialysis.conclusion: due to the abundant predisposing factors for oral candidal infection, the probability of oral candidiasis cannot be predicted based on a single factor, namely duration of hemodialysis. as a result,according to this study, the prophylactic prescription of antifungal drugs are not suggested in hemodialysis patients. however, the results of the present study should not be over generalized and more studies are required.