Oral Candida albicans in Patients in the ICU of a Brazilian Hospital School and in vitro Susceptibility of Isolated Yeasts to Extra-virgin Coconut Oil

Aims: To verify the presence and growth of Candida in oral samples from hospitalized patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the and to detect the in vitro susceptibility of isolated yeasts to extra-virgin coconut oil.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study used to detect oral Candida among hospitalized patients in Intensive Care Unit in specific time interval.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: ICU of the Hospital das Clínicas (HC - hospital school) of the Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) (ICU/HC/UFG), between May to October 2015.

Methodology: Isolation and the identification from cultures of oral Candida derived from patients of the ICU/HC/UFG were performed according to Kreeger van-RIJ. In triplicate, these C. albicans yeasts were seeded in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol with the addition of commercial use extra-virgin coconut oil, and filtered at concentrations from 5 to 50%. Petri dishes with culture medium and varied concentrations of coconut oil were subjected to 37°C / 24 h, and those that did not exhibit growth of fungal colonies were considered positive.

Results: There was a significant increase in the number of patients colonized with Candida yeasts in the first 72 hours after ICU admission, followed by stabilization at 96 hours. The Candida species isolated was Candida albicans. All cultures of oral C. albicans from ICU / HC / UFG patients, regardless of patients’ length of stay, were susceptible to the concentration of 30% coconut oil present in the culture medium of SDA plus antibiotic.

Conclusions: Keeping patients in the ICU/HC/UFG influenced the number of individuals with Candida yeasts in the buccal cavity, particularly in the first 72 hours. Albicans is the Candida species most commonly detected in the buccal mucosa of patients undergoing hospital intensive care. Extra-virgin coconut oil proved to have a natural antifungal effect in inhibiting oral C. albicans isolates.