Can There Be a Relationship Between Oral Candidiasis and Candidemia in ICU Patients?

Purpose of Review Candidiasis is one of the fungal infections that most affect patients in hospitals. The most frequent etiologic agents are Candida albicans species, but other species such as Candida parapsilosis , Candida tropicalis , Candida glabrata , and Candida krusei can often colonize and/or infect oral tissues. There are many factors responsible for this proliferation and, if disseminated, it can worsen the condition and lead the patient to death. This review aims to relate oral candidiasis with candidemia in critically ill patients and suggest the importance of preventing these oral infections. Recent Findings The literature has shown that systemic infections can originate in the oral cavity and prevention results in a reduction in hospitalizations and hospital costs. Summary This review aimed to present, through a literature review, the possible relationship between oral candidiasis and candidemia, contributing to prevention, reducing hospitalization time, aiming at improving the quality of life of patients.