Colonization of Candida: prevalence among tongue-pierced and non-pierced immunocompetent adults

Oral Dis. 2010 Mar;16(2):172-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2009.01618.x. Epub 2009 Aug 28.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the colonization of Candida at the tongue-piercing site of immunocompetent individuals.

Subjects and methods: Swabs samples were obtained from the anterior lingual mucosa of healthy young adults with tongue piercing (N = 115); 86 subjects with (non-intra-oral) facial piercing served as a comparison group. Candida colonization was examined by light microscopy after 5-day incubation. Positive specimens were re-cultured on Chromagar Candida plates for species identifying.

Results: Candida colonization was more prevalent among tongue-pierced (20.0%) than facial-pierced subjects (9.4%; P = 0.048). All colonies were of Candida albicans. No difference was found between current tongue ornament wearers (21.2%) and non-wearers (19.5%; P = 0.803). In multivariate analysis, the only significantly positive influencing factors on colonization were tongue piercing (P = 0.034) and daily smoking of more than 10 cigarettes (P = 0.024).

Conclusions: Piercing of the tongue was found to be a risk factor for colonization of Candida albicans, without an influence of whether or not an ornament is in place.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Body Piercing* / instrumentation
  • Candida albicans / growth & development*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Face / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence / immunology
  • Male
  • Mouth Mucosa / microbiology
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Smoking
  • Tongue / microbiology*
  • Young Adult