Bacterial endotoxins and microorganisms in the oral cavities of patients on cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the presence of Streptococci, Staphylococci, aerobic gram negative bacteria (AGNB), Candida and bacterial endotoxins in the oral cavities of patients receiving chemo- and/or radiotherapy for cancer.

METHODS: Samples of oral cavity rinse were collected from 100 patients on cancer treatment and 70 healthy individuals. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Samples were cultured onto various agar plates for qualitative and quantitative analysis and tested for the presence of endotoxin. Results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests.

RESULTS: In cancer patients, S. aureus counts were high and 66.7% of patients on chemo- and radiotherapy carried these bacteria (p=<0.05). The Candida carrier rate was significantly (p < 0.01) high in cancer patients (54%). No significant difference was found in the carrier rate of Streptococci and AGNB between the healthy and cancer group as well as between the cancer patients with chemo and radio- and chemotherapy alone. No significant difference was found in the level of endotoxin between the cancer patients and healthy individuals, and cancer patients with and without AGNB.

CONCLUSIONS: No differences in the prevalence of bacteria and bacterial endotoxins were found between the cancer patients and healthy individuals. Oral cavity endotoxins did not correlate with the carriage of AGNB. However, due to the high prevalence in cancer patients, the role of Candida species and S. aureus in the pathology may not be excluded.