Candida

Question 1

Candida

Answer 1

Yeast - unicellular; 4-6 microns; thin-walled, ovoid cells (blastophores) that reproduce by budding

Hyphae and pseudohyphae

Culture: forms smooth, creamy, white, glistening colonies

Question 2

Candida albicans

Answer 2

Colonizer of GI tract, lungs, skin, vagina, urethra

Typical infections: oral (thrush); skin (diaper rash); genital (vaginal yeast infection); fungemia in immunocompromised

Most common species

Question 3

Mucosal infections

Answer 3

Superficial and Endogenous

Risk factors: antibiotic use; mucousal breakdown; immune defect

Sites of infection: oropharynx (mouth); esophagus; vulva/vagina

Question 4

Thrush

Answer 4

Oral candidiasis

Infection of mucouse membranes of mouth

50% of people colonized with oral C. albicans

Risks: extremes of age; dentures; diabetes mellitus; antibiotic use; radiation therapy to head/neck; inhaled or systemic steroids; chemo; HIV; hematologic cancer; stem cell or organ transplantation

Treated with systemic or topical anti-fungal drugs

Question 5

Yeast infections

Answer 5

Candidal vulvovaginitis - Affects 75% of women

Infection of vaginal mucous membranes

Risks: antibiotics, diabetes, changes in hormones caused by oral contraceptives, pregnancy

Symptoms: vaginal itching, pain, burning with urination, discharge

Treatment: oral or topical anti-fungals

Question 6

Bloodstream infection

Answer 6

Symptoms: fever, chills that don’t improve with antibiotics

High risk: immunocompromised AND have catheter with direct access to bloodstream

Other risks: immune defect - specifically neutropenia, direct vascular access, parenteral nutrition, critically ill

High mortality, high hospitability