The Frequency of Candida and Staphylococcus Colonization in the Oral Cavity of the Elderly

Abstract Background and objectives: Poor oral hygiene in elderly people increases the colonization of opportunistic pathogens such as Candida and Staphylococci. The presence of yeasts and bacteria in the oral cavity of elderly people can be harmful and in certain conditions may cause oral and systemic infections. The general purpose of this study was to determine the oral health status, particularly the prevalence of Candida and Staphylococcus species in the oral cavity of elderly people in Yazd. Materials and methods: Oral Saliva was aseptically collected from seventytwo elderly individuals and cultured on selective fungal and bacterial media. The density of isolated microorganisms Such as Candida and Staphylococcus species was determined base on colony forming units (CFU) and identified through the biochemical and microbiological tests. Results: Fifty- eight percent of Candida species isolated from 50 (69.4%) of the subjects were Candida albicans .70.8 percentage of Staphylococcus species isolated from 65 (90.3%) of elderly are Coagulase negative. The Candida colonization in denture users is significantly higher than the elderly without denture (p= 0.001). C. albicans and the Coagulase negative staphylococcus are the most prevalent microorganisms isolated from elderly oral cavity in this study. Conclusion: The elderly have a higher risk of opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Their oral health care should be improved to protect them from opportunistic infections. Key words: Elderly, Candida, Staphylococcus, oral cavity, Yazd