接受放射治疗 (RT) 的头颈癌 (HNC) 患者经常患有口干症和/或唾液分泌不足。由于唾液具有重要的抗菌和清洁作用，这些患者发生机会性感染的风险较高。本叙述性综述旨在概述这些患者口腔念珠菌定植和感染的现有证据。对接受放疗/放化疗的 HNC 患者口腔念珠菌定植和念珠菌病的临床研究进行文献综述。许多临床研究发现高水平的念珠菌定植和感染。念珠菌定植和 RT 后 HNC 患者中很大一部分患有口咽念珠菌病 (OPC)。重要的是，口腔念珠菌可能是免疫功能低下患者危及生命的全身感染的储存库。非白色念珠菌种类和耐药感染的患病率不断上升，使得念珠菌种类和抗真菌药敏性的鉴定变得更加重要。讨论了口腔微生物组及其与念珠菌相互作用的最新进展。本综述还提供了对当前证据局限性的看法以及对未来研究的建议。进一步研究以更好地了解念珠菌携带、微生物组、OPC 和放疗后口干/唾液分泌不足将有助于设计更全面的长期管理计划和新颖的治疗方法HNC 患者获得放疗的全部益处同时最大限度地减少副作用的方法。© 2024 Wiley periodicals LLC。

Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) often suffer from xerostomia and/or hyposalivation. As saliva plays an important antimicrobial and cleansing roles, these patients are at higher risks of opportunistic infections. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of current evidence on oral Candida colonisation and infection in these patients.A literature review of clinical studies on oral Candida colonisation and candidiasis in HNC patients receiving radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy was conducted.Many clinical studies found high levels of Candida colonisation and a substantial proportion of post-RT HNC patients suffering from oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). Importantly, oral Candida could be a reservoir for life-threatening systemic infection in immunocompromised patients. The rising prevalence of non-albicans Candida species and drug-resistant infections has made identification of Candida species and antifungal susceptibility more important. Recent advances in oral microbiome and its interactions with Candida are discussed. This review also offers perspectives on limitations of current evidence and suggestions for future research.Further research to better understand Candida carriage, microbiome, OPC, and xerostomia/hyposalivation post-RT would aid in devising a more comprehensive long-term management plan and novel therapeutic approaches for HNC patients to achieve the full benefits of RT while minimising side effects.© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.