HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Oral candidiasis remains a significant opportunistic infection among HIV-infected individuals, often serving as an early marker of immune suppression. This study aimed to determine its prevalence and assess the antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species isolated from HIV-positive patients attending a secondary health facility in Benin City, Nigeria. Sterile cotton swab was used to collect oral specimens from each participant which were gram-stained for microscopic examination. Positive samples ere then cultured and subjected to sensitivity test. 250 participants were screened, 76 (30%) yielded positive for oral candidiasis. Among the sociodemographic factors analyzed, only age showed a significant association with the prevalence of oral candidiasis (p < 0.001). The highest occurrence of oral candidiasis was observed in patients above 50 years.
Antifungal susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method revealed varied resistance patterns. Amphotericin B showed the highest resistance rate (30.4%), while nystatin had the highest sensitivity rate (26%). Resistance to fluconazole, a commonly used antifungal, was also notable at 19.6%, raising concerns about self-medication and antifungal misuse in the region. Despite widespread HAART coverage, the prevalence of oral candidiasis highlights gaps in treatment adherence and monitoring. The findings emphasize the need for regular oral health assessments, targeted antifungal therapy based on susceptibility testing, and health education to improve HAART adherence and oral hygiene. These measures are crucial in reducing the burden of oral candidiasis in HIV-infected populations.