Salivary glucose levels, oral candidal carriage, candidal strain diversity and antifungal susceptibility of candida among adult diabetic patients

Aim/Introduction: To detect salivary glucose levels and for the determination, if salivary glucose levels could be used as a non-invasive tool to monitor glycemic control in diabetics. Furthermore, the evaluation of relationship between salivary glucose levels and candidal carriage alongwith identification of strain diversity and antifungal susceptibility was also carried out. Materials and methods: 90 subjects with age range of 40-60 years were selected. Diabetic status was determined by estimation of random non-fasting plasma glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Un-stimulated and stimulated saliva was analyzed for glucose levels. An oral rinse sample with Phosphate buffered saline was used to assess candidal colonization. The candidal isolates were identified and tested for in-vitro antifungal susceptibility using disc diffusion method. Results: Salivary glucose levels were significantly higher in diabetics and there was significant correlation between salivary glucose and random non-fasting plasma glucose. Candidal carriage was higher in diabetics with C. Albicans being the most frequently identified yeast in all groups, but subjects carried other fungal species as well. The antifungal susceptibility revealed that the Candida had different rates of resistance to the tested antifungal drugs except Amphotericin B. Conclusions: Salivary glucose levels could possibly be used as a non-invasive tool to monitor glycemic control in diabetics. The candidal carriage is increased in the diabetics. The most effective antifungal drug was Amphotericin B. Culture and sensitivity testing would add to the value of selecting appropriate antifungal drug as to prevent emergence of drug resistance. Correspondence to: Simranpreet Kaur, Senior Consultant, Dentition, Shivalik Hospital, SAS Nagar, Punjab, India, Tel: +91 9878880463; E-mail: [email protected]