Clinical factors associated with fluconazole resistance in oral Candida from xerostomic head and neck cancer patients.

While resistance to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal agent, is increasingly prevalent, it is not well-characterized among these patients.

Fluconazole susceptibility was tested using E-test™ and interpreted according to CLSI-M60 guidelines.

The prevalence of fluconazole resistance was significantly higher in head and neck cancer group at both isolate and patient levels (p = 0.037 and 0.027, respectively).

Interestingly, fluconazole resistance was significantly associated with higher Candida load in cancer patients, while it was associated with lower biofilm formation in controls.