Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to manage and prevent candida infection as follows:
- Poor nutrition is an important risk factor for altered immunity, immune deficiency, and activation of opportunistic infections like candida. Observe compliance with eating a healthy balanced diet, with good protein content, to prevent activation of candida.
- Improper cleaning of dentures can grow candida and contribute to candida infection of oral cavity. Individuals using dentures must clean the dentures well every night, with brush and water. Soak the dentures overnight in chlorhexidine. Rinse well with water before having them on in the morning. Individuals with history of oral candida, COPD patients taking orally inhaled steroids must perform rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash every night, to prevent candida growth.
- Senior citizens, individuals receiving chemo or radiation therapies, individuals with history of HIV or AIDS, individuals with history of autoimmune diseases, and individuals with history of organ transplantation, prolonged steroid & long-term antibiotic intake can have poor and altered immunity levels, which can put them at increased risk for candida overgrowth and infection. Compliance with use of chlorhexidine mouthwash for rinsing mouth can help prevent candida growth.
