Relationship between oral Candida species infection and glycemia levels of diabetic patients at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital in Cameroon

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insulin abnormalities.In poorly controlled diabetic patients, candida species are more prevalent. This study aimed at evaluating therelationship between oral Candida species infection and themanagement of glycemia in diabetic patients. A hospitalbased cross sectional study was carried out indiabetic patients within the period of 3 months at Bafoussam RegionalHospital. The study questionnaires were submitted to 124 eligible participants andlater, mouth swaps were collectedusing sterile cotton wool swabs, fasting blood sugar levels were detected using a glucose meter and 4 ml venous bloodsamples were collected for determination of the levels of glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c). Candida species were isolatedand identified. The study consisted of 124 diabetic patients, and a total of 27 (21.7%) patients were screened positivefor oral candida species infections. The isolated Candida species were; Candida albicans (74.1%), Candida glabrata(7.4%), Candida tropicalis (3.7%), Candida krusei (7.4%), Candida dubliniensis (3.7%), and Candida parapsilosis(3.7%). Candida albicans was shown to significantly increase with elevated levels of glycated hemoglobin (p=0.043)and Candida species colonization wassubstantially linked with fasting blood glucose, urine catheter usage, type ofdiabetes, level of education and the wearing of dental prosthesis (p < 0.05). No statistically significant associationbetween Candida colonization and factors like poor oral hygiene, smoking, alcohol intake, being hospitalized, being onlong term antibiotics or experiencing dry mouth was observed. These findings indicate that high blood glucose levelspromotethe growth of Candida.None of the predisposing factors of oral candidiasisimpacted the developmentofCandida tropicalis. WhileCandida albicans was the most isolated species in all the groups,Candida krusei wasmostly isolated in severe cases of exposure.