Modifications of the microflora of the oral cavity arising during immunosuppressive chemotherapy

• Published in: European Journal of Cancer. Part B: Oral Oncology Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 306 - 310
• Main Authors: Sixou, J.-L., de Medeiros-Batista, O., Bonnaure-Mallet, M.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Elsevier B.V 01.09.1996; Oxford Pergamon Press; New York, NY
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Dentistry; Disease Reservoirs; drug therapy; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Fungi - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; immunodepression; Medical sciences; microbiology; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); mouth; Mouth - microbiology; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Opportunistic Infections - immunology; Opportunistic Infections - microbiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; microbiology; drug therapy; mouth; immunodepression; Human; Stomatology; Toxicity; Etiopathogenesis; Microflora; Malignant tumor; Infection; Oral cavity; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Bacteriosis; ENT disease; Immunosuppressive agent
• ISSN: 0964-1955; 1878-6766
• DOI: 10.1016/0964-1955(96)00006-1

Infections are a major cause of mortality among immunosuppressed cancer patients. The oral cavity is a possible reservoir for those microorganisms, both commensal and acquired, whose virulence is exacerbated in the immunosuppressed patient. The mouth consists of multiple habitats offering ecological niches to a variety of organisms. The object of this article is to review the literature devoted to quantitative and qualitative variations in the flora of the oral cavity during immunosuppressive treatment of cancer patients. Examination of these different studies reveals modifications of the commensal flora, as well as an increase in Gram negative rods, in staphylococci and in yeasts. These data confirm the necessity for constant surveillance of the oral cavity during chemotherapy.