Variations in Oral Health Outcomes and Mycobiome Composition Among COVID-19 Convalescents

The study aimed to characterize the oral mycobiome of individuals recovering from COVID-19. The research involved three groups: COVID-19 convalescents who received antibiotics during hospitalization (Group I), those who did not receive antibiotics (Group II), and healthy control participants who were not infected with SARS-CoV-2 nor treated with antibiotics (Group III). Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting the ITS-1 region. The findings revealed that COVID-19 convalescents, especially those treated with antibiotics, had a worse oral condition compared to healthy controls, with Candida overgrowth strongly linked to antibiotic use. Additionally, a reduced presence of mold species in convalescents indicated that hospital sanitary measures may have limited fungal exposure during hospitalization. The research, approved by the Jagiellonian University Ethical Committee, underscores the impact of antibiotic treatment on oral fungal balance in COVID-19 patients.