[Clinico-laboratory associations of candidial infection persistence in diabetes mellitus].

Population heterogeneity of Candida spp. in feces of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) demonstrated in our earlier studies prompted to focus on the persistence of candidial infection depending on demographic characteristics of the patients and clinical features of DM. We examined 64 patients with DM and 40 practically healthy subjects aged 20-60 yr. The seeding rate (%) of short-lived (emerged on day 0 or 1) and long-lived (emerged on both days 0 and 1) of Candida spp. cultures was determined. The short-lived fraction of microorganisms most frequently occurred in patients below 50 yr without clinico-laboratory signs of DM and the history of candidiasis (coincidence rate 75.0%, p < 0.001). The long-lived fraction was characteristic of patients with the history of candidiasis having DM of less than 5 yr in duration and glycated hemoglobin over 7.8 mmol/l without complications taking oral hypoglycemic agents (80%, p < 0.001). Candida spp. were totally absent in patients with late diabetic complications, duration of disease over 5 yr, glycated hemoglobin level below 7.8%, and candidiasis-free history. It is concluded that clinico-laboratory characteristics and demographic factors determine persistence of Candida spp. in feces of DM patients.