Although rare, nosocomial transmission has also been reported to occur from inanimate surface, from hands of health care workers or between patients Footnote 4 Footnote 10.ĬOMMUNICABILITY: Although rare, person to person transmission can occur between family members or between patients Footnote 4 Footnote 10. MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Most infections result from the patient’s own flora, rather than from cross infection Footnote 3. albicans is the most common fungal pathogen responsible for nosocomial systemic infections Footnote 7, and also the most commonly isolated pathogen from clinical samples obtained from mucous membranes such as oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and vagina Footnote 7. There has been a decrease in the incidence of oral candidiasis in HIV infected patients, since the introduction of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) Footnote 7. Risk factors associated with the development of invasive candidiasis include: antibiotic therapy administration of steroids, immunosuppressants, or chemotherapy prior surgery solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, diabetes, and lymphoma as well as trauma and burn patients Footnote 2 Footnote 7 Footnote 9. albicans can occur in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals, invasive candidiasis such as candidemia/systemic disease are seen only in severely immunocompromised individuals Footnote 7 Footnote 9. Although mucocutanaeous infections caused by C. ![]() It has been isolated from soil, animals, hospitals, inanimate objects and food Footnote 7 Footnote 8. albicans Footnote 2 Footnote 3 Footnote 5.ĮPIDEMIOLOGY: C. Infections of the nail (paronychial and onychomycotic candidosis), superficial invasion of mucous membranes, cutaneous infections of the macerated skin (in crural folds, diaper area in infants), eye infections such as endophthalmitis are examples of other infections caused by C. It involves chronic infections of the skin, hair, face, scalp and hands, and can further disseminate to deeper tissues and major body organs such as kidneys, heart and brain Footnote 3 Footnote 6, which may lead to septicimea (candidemia – Candida in blood) and death Footnote 2 Footnote 3. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a rare genetic disease, which occurs in individuals with defects in immune response against Candida. In immunocompromised patients (such as those with HIV infection), similar lesions can also occur on the small intestine and stomach Footnote 3 Footnote 5. Esophageal candidiasis is manifested by inflammatory patches that develop on the esophagus, causing painful swallowing and substernal chest pain Footnote 3. Prior antibiotic consumption and diabetes are also risk factors for the development of candidiasis. Infection of the vagina, vaginal candidiasis, occurs mainly in pregnant mothers, women with intrauterine devices, or women who use oral contraceptives Footnote 2, and is characterized by thick, curd like discharge (leucorrhea), eruption and itching of the vulva Footnote 2 Footnote 3. The most frequent clinical form is thrush/oral candidiasis, where infection can be observed on the tongue, palate or other mucosal surfaces and is characterized by single or multiple, ragged white patches Footnote 2 Footnote 3. ![]() However, it is also an opportunistic pathogen in humans Footnote 4, as it can cause disease in immunodeficient and immunocompetent individuals that can be life-threatening Footnote 5. albicans is a commensal pathogen as it is a member of the gastrointestinal, oropharyngeal and female genital flora Footnote 3. The original colonies are wrinkled, which revert to smooth colonies when subcultured Footnote 1. ![]() Colonies appear within 48-72 hours when cultured on fungal media such as Sabouraud glucose agar at 37☌ Footnote 1. Asexual reproduction occurs by budding with formation of blastoconidia Footnote 1 Footnote 3. The yeast form with blastoconidia budding is the most common, and pseudohyphae forms lack the proper structural forms such as parallel walls and septation of the true hyphae, which are sprout-like and can develop thick walled chlamydospores Footnote 3. It is a polymorphic fungus as it can occur as yeast or pseudohyphal forms depending on temperature, pH, and nutrients Footnote 3. SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Candidiasis, thrush, Candida claussenii, Candida langeronii 1 Footnote 2.ĬHARACTERISTICS: Candida albicans, of the family Candidaceae Footnote 1, is encapsulated and diploid Footnote 1.
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