The Influence of Age, Health Care and Hygienic Habits on Candida Species Prevalence in the Human Oral Cavity and Genitourinary Tract

Aims: The present study examined the influence of age, health care and hygienic habits on the prevalence of Candida species in the human oral cavity and genitourinary tract.

Study Design: The study was a cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, between March 2006 and February 2007.

Methodology: Oral and genitourinary samples were collected from 218 individuals (45 males, 173 females) within the ages of 12 and 67 years. Ninety-four of these volunteers responded to the questionnaire on health care and hygienic habits. The clinical specimen collected were cultured for the presence of Candida species. The data obtained were statistically presented as means and percentages.

Results: Out of 298 samples collected, 61/154 oral (19 males, 42 females) and 53/144 genitourinary (0 male, 53 females) samples yielded growth of Candida species. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Candida species between subjects who use toothpaste and those who use chewing stick for oral hygiene (P=0.93). Respondents who douched were more colonized with Candida 26(39.39%) than those who did not (0%). Species of Candida were significantly associated with the textile material of the undergarment (p = 0.044). Age significantly influenced the prevalence of Candida species in the oral cavity (p < 0.05) but not in the genitourinary tract (p = 0.612).

Conclusion: The study recommends good personal hygiene and health care habits to reduce proliferation of Candida species.