Prevalência de Candida sp. no meio ambiente bucal e fatores associados em pessoas idosas acamadas e domiciliadas

Abstract

Introduction: With increasing life expectancy, it is expected that more and more elderly people will be housebound and bedridden. In this context, the oral environment also suffers consequences, since, as Candida albicans and many other Candida species are part of the supplementary microbiota, when the host's immune system is compromised, these fungi can cause candidosis. Objective: To analyze the prevalence of Candida sp. and associated factors in bedridden and homebound elderly people. Methodology: A sample of 397 elderly people was evaluated, who were clinically examined and saliva samples were collected and analyzed to diagnose the presence of yeast. Data analysis was carried out based on the presence or absence of Candida sp. species, and associated factors were determined using the Chi-square test and robust Poisson regression for a confidence level of 95%. Results: Candida sp. was present in 63.1% volunteers (95% CI 57.3-68.9), highlighting the species C. albicans in 44.5%, C. tropicalis in 19%, C. krusei in 17.5% and C .glabrata in 12.5%. The variables that were associated with the presence of Candida sp. were candidosis (RP = 1.32), lack of frequent visits by the community health agent (RP = 1.13) and polypharmacy (RP = 1.14). Conclusion: The prevalence of Candida sp. in the oral environment of bedridden and homebound elderly people was high and that the excessive use of medications, the lack of care on the part of the health system and the clinical manifestation of the excess presence of the yeast Candida sp., especially the Candida albicans, were decisive for the presence of this yeast in the oral environment of these elderly people.