Candida

Question 1

• size
• # cells
• type of organism
• where is it found in body

Answer 1

• 4-6 micrometers
• unicellular
• yeast
• skin, GI and female genital tract, sputum

Question 2

Microbio features

• gram stain
• where does it grow
• agar plates

Answer 2

• gram-positive
• agar plates and blood cultures
• agar plates: white creamy colonies

Question 3

List cutaneous candida places (7)

Answer 3

1) generalized cutaneous
2) erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica: between fingers and toes
3) Candida folliculitis: hair follicles (immunocompromised, IV drug use, obesity)
4) Candida balanitis
5) Intertrigo and diaper rash: maceration, itch, erythema
6) Paronychia and oncyomycosis: nail/nailbed (diabetes, frequent emersion in water)
7) Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis: infections of hair, nails, skin, and mucosa that don’t respond well to therapy. Associated with T-cell lymphocyte dysfunction

Question 4

List superficial candida types (4)

Answer 4

1) Mouth
- HIV or inhaled steroids

2) Esophageal
- hematological malignancies or HIV
- odynophagia/dysphagia

3) GI
- malignancy
- gastric ulcer or perforation

4) Vulvovaginitis
- pregnancy
- diabetes
- on antibiotics
- Most commonly idiopathic

Question 5

List invasive candida places (7)

Answer 5

1) CNS: brain/meninges, usually hematogenous
2) Ocular: hematogenous, surgery, or trauma
3) Respiratory:

4) Cardiac: hematogenous
- endocarditis, pericarditis, or myocarditis

5) GI: peritoneal dialysis, surgery, or perforated viscus
- gall bladder, liver, spleen, peritoneum

6) Urinary: requires renal involvement to be considered invasive
- foley catheters

7) Joint/bone: hematogenous
- arthritis, osteomyelitis, myositis,