Management of oral Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in oncology patients using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, photobiomodulation, and systemic antibiotics: a case series.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case series of oral Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in oncology patients managed using combined antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and photobiomodulation in association with systemic antibiotic therapy guided by microbiological culture and antibiogram.

METHODS

Nine oncology patients with culture-confirmed oral Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections were treated with alternating sessions of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and photobiomodulation combined with systemic antibiotic therapy selected according to antibiogram results. Clinical response, healing time, and microbiological findings were evaluated.

RESULTS

All patients achieved complete resolution of oral lesions, with a median healing time of 5 days (range, 3-16 days). Microbiological analysis demonstrated high resistance rates to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, whereas all isolates remained sensitive to aminoglycosides. No adverse effects or recurrences were observed during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Combined antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and photobiomodulation associated with systemic antibiotic therapy guided by culture and antibiogram proved to be a safe, rapid, and reproducible adjunctive approach for managing multidrug-resistant oral infections in oncology patients. Controlled clinical trials are warranted.