Candidiasis

Question 1

def of oral candidiasis

Answer 1

infection of oral tissues by yeasts (candida albicans)

Question 2

what is the most common oral infection

Answer 2

oral candidiasis

Question 3

who commonly gets oral candidiasis

Answer 3

infants and elderly

Question 4

where are candida found

Answer 4

normal flora in the GI and GU tracts of humans

Question 5

risk factors for candida

Answer 5

reduced salivation + poor dental hygeine
radiotherapy
diabetes
HIV

Question 6

what sort of infection is candidiasis

Answer 6

an opportunistic mucosal infection alongside a disseminated and multi-system organ involvement

Question 7

what is the most common cause of oropharyngeal candidiasis

Answer 7

candida albicans

Question 8

what is generally more pathogenic in candida (yeast or hyphae)

Answer 8

hyphae

Question 9

history

Answer 9

white/yellow plaques on the tongue

may present with cracks or ulcers in the corners of the mouth

Question 10

examination

Answer 10

white/yellow plaques which are adherent to the tongue

cracks and ulcers which radiate from the angles of the mouth

Question 11

what is the gold standard investigation for oral candidiasis

Answer 11

smear or lesion for microscopy which is positive for candida hyphae

Question 12

def of systemic candidiasis

Answer 12

infection of blood with candida species

Question 13

what is associated with systemic candidiasis

Answer 13

fever
hypotension
+/- leukocytosis

Question 14

which sites are commonly affected by systemic candidiasis

Answer 14

eyes
kidney
liver
spleen
CNS

Question 15

what candida is most common

Answer 15

candida albicans

Question 16

who is systemic candidiasis common in

Answer 16

patients admitted to hospital with intravascular catheters or neutropenia

Question 17

what is the only fungi which may present as normal flora in humans

Answer 17

candida species

Question 18

what species of candida colonise the GI tract

Answer 18

c glabrata

c tropicalis

Question 19

what species of candida colonise the skin and intravascular catheters

Answer 19

c parapsilosis

Question 20

risk factors for systemic candidiasis

Answer 20

use of central venous catheter
broad-spectrum antibiotics (cause candida to overgrow)
immunosuppressants

Question 21

history + examination of systemic candidiasis

Answer 21

features of sepsis
fever (>38)
tachycardia and tachypnoea
hypotension
confusion
low urine output and oxygen saturation

Question 22

investigations in systemic candidiasis

Answer 22

1 bloods
-culture (however a negative result does not rule out diagnosis)
-high WBC and low platelets are signs of sepsis
-high lactate
2 LFTs/RFTs
-high ALT, AST, alkphos, GGT, bilirubin
-creatinine twice normal

Question 23

A 52-year-old woman with a history of Crohn’s disease developed fevers while receiving total parenteral nutrition for 2 weeks. She underwent a small bowel resection followed by prolonged intravenous antibiotics for intra-abdominal abscess and fistulae. Examination reveals a temperature of 38.5°C (101°F), normal heart sounds without murmur, central venous catheter site without erythema or drainage, and no rash

Answer 23

Systemic candidiasis