Oropharyngeal candidiasis prevalence among HIV-infected patients at the teaching hospital of Treichville (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)

Summary Aim of the study The aim of this study was to determine the mycological profile of oropharyngeal candidiasis among HIV-infected patients from Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, and Pneumo-Phthisiology Diseases departments of the Teaching Hospital of Treichville in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Patients and methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out on patients with lesions suggestive of oropharyngeal candidiasis from October 2010 to April 2011. Oral swabs were cultured, and Candida species were identified using a germ tube test, a chlamydospore formation assay, and the API 20C system. Results A total of 286 patients were included, among whom 99.1% were infected with HIV. The prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis was 79.4% (CI 95%  = 74.4–83.8). Five different species of Candida were identified, with the predominant species being Candida albicans (95.2%). Most affected patients were female (54.6%, P P Conclusion Oropharyngeal candidiasis is frequent among HIV-infected patients. Better and early management of this vulnerable population should allow for a reduction in the high prevalence observed.