Mucosal microflora in head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

Despite improvements in treatment for cancer in the head and neck region, microorganisms associated with oral health decrease during treatment and mucosal pathogens increase. Two years post-treatment, levels of acid-tolerant (lactobacilli and Candida) were increased, while acid-sensitive microorganisms (Neisseria and F. nucleatum) were decreased, plausibly due to persisting decreased salivary secretion rate.

Oral microbiota versus oral mucositis during cancer treatment: a review

“…The sample size of the OM articles was quite similar, having the sample ranging from 19 to 49 patients. However, the age of the study group was very different, with some of them working with age up to 18 years, 11 and other from 18 years. 3 Furthermore, five studies are from countries of the European continent, among them Sweden, 11,12 Croatia, 13 Spain and Italy.…”

“…However, the age of the study group was very different, with some of them working with age up to 18 years, 11 and other from 18 years. 3 Furthermore, five studies are from countries of the European continent, among them Sweden, 11,12 Croatia, 13 Spain and Italy. 3,14 Three studies are from Asian countries, among them India, 15 China and Japan.…”

“…The studies selected had used different methodologies, both those of conventional culture with the microorganisms being analyzed by cultures in selective media, 3,5,[12][13][14][15] as microbial analysis by 16S sequencing. 1,2,11 Six studies have analyzed bacteria and two studies analyzed mainly fungi. [1][2][3][11][12][13][14][15] One study analyzed both microbiological groups.…”

“…1,2,11 Six studies have analyzed bacteria and two studies analyzed mainly fungi. [1][2][3][11][12][13][14][15] One study analyzed both microbiological groups. 5 The kind of sample of OM articles From the nine manuscript selected, three studies collected the sample with oropharyngeal swab before and after RT.…”

“…3 One study used strips of paper placed on the mucosa or OM if occurred. 11 And one study used the mucosal swab and scraped the dorsum tongue during the treatment. 12 Considering the above, some distinct shifts were expected when comparing the manuscripts studied, because the sample region was distinct.…”