Association between oral candidiasis and bacterial pneumonia: A retrospective study

Objective To investigate associated risk factors for oral candidiasis in elderly patients hospitalized in a community-based acute-care hospital with no dental units. Methods Two hundred and twenty-eight elderly patients (male: 105, female: 123), who were hospitalized with several systemic diseases in a community-based acute-care hospital from May 2014 to October 2016, were retrospectively analysed by multiple logistic regression. Results Multiple logistic regression analysis shows that bacterial pneumonia has a statistically strong relationship with oral candidiasis (p = 0.000, OR: 5.173, 95% CI: 2.368-11.298). The order followed is poor oral hygiene (p = 0.001, OR: 6.095, 95% CI: 2.003-18.545) and severe dry mouth (p = 0.043, OR: 2.507, 95% CI: 1.031-6.098). Other correlated factors including diabetes mellitus, denture wearer, dysphagia, malnutrition, requiring care and use of inhalation steroids, were not statistically significant in this study. Conclusions Bacterial pneumonia correlates with oral candidiasis.