Pre-operative Assessment of Oral Staphylococcus and Candida Species in a Group of Sri Lankans with Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Objectives Cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients are prone to opportunistic infections by Staphylococcus and Candida. This study aimed to assess oral Staphylococcus and Candida in a group of Sri Lankans with CLP. Material and Methods Oral swabs were collected from 52 CLP patients preoperatively upon their informed assent. Staphylococcus and Candida were isolated microbiologically. Methicillin resistance (MR) of staphylococci was assessed using cefoxitin disk diffusion. Candida species were identified using germ tube test and chrome agar. Results The study included 52 (male=27, female=25) CLP patients (mean age = 9.4 ±3.6 months). Oral prevalence of Staphylococcus and Candida were 65.4% (34/52) and 23.1% (12/52), respectively. Whereas 11.5% (6/52) of patients carried both Staphylococcus and Candida, 11.5% (6/52) had neither organism. Staphylococci included 41.2% (14/34) S. aureus and 58.8% (20/34) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). MR was detected in 57.1% (8/14) of S. aureus and 55% (11/20) of CoNS. Candida included 58.3% (7/12) C. albicans and 41.7% (5/12) non-C. albicans Candida. Conclusion Considering the high prevalence of Staphylococcus with MR along with pathogenic Candida species, proper infection control practice, and meticulous postoperative care would be mandatory to avoid post-operative complications in CLP patients in this study setting.