Candida Flashcards
What are the major species of Candida
C. Albicans: causes most of the infections
C. Kursei,
C. Glabrata
C. Parapsilosis
C. Tropicalis
The others also cause a meaningful number of infections. KGPT KG’s PT
What is the differential medium used to determine the species of Candida?
What other method is used?
Chrome Agar
PNA-FISH. Peptide-nucleic acid FISH
What diseases does candida cause?
In healthy people: Superficial Candidiasis.
Local skin folds or oral, GI, anal, vaginal infections. “Thrush”
It is also part of the normal oral flora in about 50% of healthy people, and thus can often contaminate clinical specimens.
Immunocomp’d: Visceral candidiasis, aka Invasive candidiasis. Blood and organ infection, including brain. May cause abscesses in organs.
Morphology of Candida, at 20C and at 37C
What stain is used?
It is 3-5 uM, slightly oval shaped yeast. Exists normally in yeast form, but can undergo hyphal transformation and form pseudohyphae.
Unlike most fungi, Candida is a yeast in the cold, and at 37C it forms germ tubes and true hyphae
KOH prep
Methylene blue
How is candida infection treated?
Oral systemic therapy: Fluconazole or Itraconazole
Topical therapy: Azole creams
Urinary infections, or severe systemic infections. Amphotericin B.
For specifically oral or esophageal candidiasis: Nystatin can be used to swish and spit.
Capsofungin is used in resistant, dessminated infections. Inhibits beta glucan 1-3 linking enzyme.
What unique biochemical property does Candida have that most fungi do not?
What subgroup of patients are susceptible to candida because of this?
It is catalase positive.
Patients with chronic granuolmatouse disease.
What are the clinical presentations of Candida?
Babies with severe diaper rash, from the heat and humidity of the diaper.
Oral candidiasis. Seen in immunocomp’d and people using oral steroids, like inhalers.
Note that these oral thrushes can be scraped off, which distinguishes it from leukoplakia which cannot be.
Can extend to Candidal Esophagitis, occurs exclusively in AIDS patients and is an AIDS defining illness. Can occur once your CD4 count drops to 100.
Vaginal Cadidiasis: Usually in women on antibiotics that disrupt the normalflora. Also common in women on birth control and diabetic.
Note it does not change the normal acidic pH of the vagina, which is 4.0 or lower.
Candidal Endocarditis: Seen in IV drug users, affecting the Tricuspid valve. Candida can often contaminate herion.
Diabetes or other immunocompromised states predisposed people to candida.
