Comparative study on the microbiological features of angular cheilitis in HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative patients from South India

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the microbiological features of angular cheilitis (AC) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive and HIV seronegative individuals, in a group of south Indians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Swabs from oral commissures of 46 patients were obtained and inoculated on to Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) supplemented with chloramphenicol, blood agar (BA) and MacConkey's agar (MCA) plates and cultured. α-hemolytic Streptococci, Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida species, Klebsiella species and Pseudomonas species were cultured. Candidal colonies were further speciated by the conventional biotyping technique. RESULTS: In AC of HIV seropositive patients Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus were more prevalent than that in HIV seronegative patients. Incidentally in patients with CD4 cell count less than 200 there was an increase in the incidence of Candidal and Staphylococcus aureus colonization when compared to patients with CD4 cell count higher than 200. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests a definite difference in the microbial flora of AC in HIV seropositive patients than that of HIV seronegative population.