Efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate rinse for treatment and prevention of oral candidiasis in HIV-infected children: a pilot study. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.12% rinses on the clinical and microbiologic manifestations of oral candidiasis in HIV-infected children. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional, clinical intervention study of 38 HIV-positive children. Inclusion in the study was based on oral examination and positive oral culture for Candida. At baseline, subjects with no clinical lesions but who were culture-positive for Candida (N = 9) were placed on preventive therapy of CHX q.d. for 90 days. Subjects with clinical oral candidiasis (N = 9) were placed on therapeutic CHX b.i.d. All 38 subjects received oral exams at monthly intervals. At 90 days oral mucosal samples were again taken for Candida. Colony-forming units (CFU) were determined before and after CHX treatment. RESULTS: Of 18 culture-positive subjects, 12 were included in the CFU analyses. After 3 months of CHX oral rinse therapy, Candida was undetectable in 3 children; another 8 showed an average 2-fold reduction in CFU. In 1 child the number of CFU increased modestly. Overall, the average pre- and posttreatment mean CFU was 6.18 +/- 2.19 and 2.73 +/- 3.15, respectively (P = .009). Five patients with clinical oral candidiasis at baseline, including all 3 who had pseudomembranous candidiasis, were free of signs of disease at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the topical disinfectant CHX may be a promising agent for treating and preventing oral candidiasis in HIV-infected children.

publication date

  • February 1, 2004

Research

keywords

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Candidiasis, Oral
  • Chlorhexidine
  • HIV Infections
  • Mouthwashes

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 1242328956

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.tripleo.2003.09.005

PubMed ID

  • 14970779

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 97

issue

  • 2