Oral Candidiasis in HIV Patients Subjected to Anti-retro Viral Therapy (ART) in Wad Medani HIV Center, Gezira State, Sudan (2021)

Background: Oral candidiasis is the most common fungal infection in immune compromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Candida albicans alone is responsible of more than 95% of candidiasis. The increase prevalence of oral candidiasis among African HIV infected people has resulted in increased in usage of antifungal agents for both prophylactic and treatment purposes. 
This study aimed to detect oral candidiasis in HIV patients subjected to ART. 
Methods: In Wad Medani HIV center, Central Sudan,  a  total of 100 participants were  enrolled,  oral  swabs   were  collected and processed immediately by  culturing on  potatoes  dextrose  agar  (PDA),  Candida  species were identified on the base of morphology, germ tube test  and chlamydospres formation and the participants were categorized according the WHO classification of viral stages into I, II, III and IV. Demographic data was obtained by questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS program version 21. IBM Chicago. 
Results: Theresults obtained revealed that 55% (55/100) % were females while  45% (45/100) % were males with an age ranging from 31 to 41 years. Candida species was detected in 21% (21/100) of tested samples, and all olated candida showed positive germ tube test and produced beta hemolysis on blood agar while chlamydospores were observed among 85.7% (18/21) and recorded as Candida albicans.  Only18.75%  (3/16) of stages 1 subject showed viral  load of more than 40 copies/ml, while stage II,III and IV showed o %,  29.8% (17/57)  and  27.3(6/22) % respectively. Oral candidiasis recorded in   stages III and IV with percentage 57% (57/100) and 22% (22/100) respectively. 
Conclusion: There was no significant association between HIV stages and viral load among participants with oral candidiasis (p. value 0.431). The study recommendation, early detection of HIV patients to ensure good management and continuous availability of  anti-retro viral drugs in AIDS  centers.