S1.1d Risk factors associated with oropharyngeal candidiasis in COVID-19 patients: a case control study

S1.1 CONTROVERSIES IN THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE CANDIDIASIS IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: OBJECTIVES: With the emergence and spread of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the world, humans have been faced with the biggest challenge in health care systems in recent decades. The aim of the present study is to identify risk factors associated with oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: The total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients was 218 (105 participants as cases who experienced OPC and 113 participants as controls without any evidence of OPC). The questionnaire used in this study consists of demography data, treatment strategy, clinical and laboratory data, and underlying diseases to collect information at the time of clinical OPC and follow them until the end of hospitalization. RESULTS: Pseudomembranous candidiasis (77/105, 73.3%) was the most prevalent form of OPC in case patients. The majority of cases (58.1%) and control (58.4%) groups were male. Increasing age of COVID-19 patients (P = .03) and length of hospitalization (P = .016) were significantly associated with OPC. Diabetes (P = .003), solid tumor (P = .019), and hypertension (P = .000) were the most common underlying conditions. Use of dentures (P = .003) and poor oral hygiene (P = .000) were related to OPC in case groups. Therapy with chloroquine (P = .012), IVIG (P = .001), diuretics (P = .000), and corticosteroid pulse therapy (P = .000) were significantly associated with the development of OPC in case patients. CONCLUSION: It is reasonable to consider that old age, length of hospitalization, poor oral hygiene, corticosteroid usage, diabetes, solid tumor, and hypertension may predispose to the development of OPC in COVID-19 patients.