Factors associated with the counts of selected oral microorganisms in nursing home residents.

PURPOSE/AIM To analyze potential factors associated with levels of selected oral pathogens, as well as total aerobic bacterial species, among nursing home residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nursing home residents were divided into three groups (G1 included people with teeth but no dentures, G2 included people with teeth and dentures, and G3 included people with no teeth and with dentures). All participants had microbiological samples collected from their oral cavity and dentures. Counts of total aerobic bacterial species, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces viscosus, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Candida albicans were compared among groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. A multivariate analysis was also performed to control other available covariates. RESULTS Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences among the groups, and multivariate analysis showed that sex, the presence of natural teeth, denture wearing, oral hygiene indices, and systemic health conditions were associated with bacterial and Candida albicans log counts. CONCLUSIONS Presence of natural teeth and denture wearing, as well as oral hygiene, sex and systemic health conditions were associated with bacterial and Candida albicans log counts among nursing home residents.