Candidiasis

Candidiasis

Causative Agent; It is caused by candida albicans.

It is a yeast like fungi can for pseudomycelium.

Sources and Mode of Transmission

Candidiasis is an infection of skin, mucous, internal organ caused by candida albicans.

Candida albicans is normal inhabitant of skin, gastrointestinal tract, oral and vaginal cavity.

When candida yeast spreads in mouth and throat, it can cause infection cell, thrush.

Morphology

Candida albicans is oval or spherical budding yeast cell, 3-5 micrometre in diameter.

Pathogenesis

Candidiasis is opportunistic endogenous infection.

Lesions cause by candida albicans are;

1. Mucocutaneous lesions

a. Oral/thrush

b. Vulvovaginitis

c. Balanitis

d. Conjunctivitis

e. Keratitis 

2. Skin and nail infection 

Skin; Infection of axillae groin

Nail; infection of finger skin, nail fold infection 

Infant; lead to napkin dermatitis

3. Systemic candidiasis

Urinary tract Infection

Intestinal candidiasis;

Frequent use of oral antibiotic therapy and present as diarrhea.

For example; use of bacterial antibiotic allow yeast to over grow.

Pulmonary candidiasis

Endocarditis

Meningitis

Septicemia; infection released in bloodstream and causes inflammation throughout body.

Vaginal candidiasis present as itching and burning pain of vulva and vagina, with thick or thin white discharge. 

HIV positive female generally experience vaginal candidiasis.

HIV positive possible develop oral candidiasis.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Specimen collection

Scrapping from skin, sputum, feces, mucus membrane.

KOH preparation

Microscopic examination, show yeast cell with budding (gram +ve yeast cell).

Gram stained smear

Show gram +ve yeast cell with budding and pseudohyphae.

Culture of SDA

Candida species grow cell on SDA and ordinary bacteriological culture media.

For example; blood agar

Grow at 25-37degree celcius within 24 hours.

Cream coloured, smooth, pasty colonies appear.

Identification; Germ tube test to differentiate candida albicans from other species.

Candida albicans has ability to form germ tube within two hours when incubated in human serum at 37 degree Celsius.

Treatment

Nystatin and miconazole is useful for treatment of oral and vaginal infection for systemic candidiasis, Amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine are quite useful.