To study the isolation and identification of fungi from oral cancer after radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Cancer, known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of diseases involving unregulated cell growth. In oral cavity infection, the oral microflora may be subsequently replaced by potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as candela species (from 72% to 92%). Hence, because of a weakened line of defense in oral cancer patients, the present prospective cohort study was carried out with the aim of isolation and identification of fungal colonization from oral cavity from radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and both radio-chemotheray treated patients. Methods: The proposed study was carried out on clinical samples in the Department of Microbiology in S. P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Isolates from clinical samples were collected from Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Samples of the lesion from the tongue and mouth were obtained with a sterile cotton swab. The sample was cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and typical yeast colonies were determined after 72 h. After, staining isolates were subjected to biochemical identification. Results: A total of fifty isolates were taken for the study. Out of these fifty isolates, 45 (90%) were male, whereas 5 (10%) were female. In this study, about 90% of oral and pharyngeal cancer in men and around 10% in women can be estimated. Out of fifty, the highest isolates obtained were Candida albicans (15, 30%), followed by Candida glabrata (11, 22%) and Candida tropicalis (8, 16%), and the lowest number was of Candida krusei (6, 12%). In this purposed study, out of fifty patients, C. albicans can be isolated in 15 patients that is a higher value. Conclusion: C. albicans is the most commonly implicated organism in the mouth after radiotherapy and radio chemotherapy. It is clear that C. albicans is the most commonly found fungi to cause secondary infection.