CANDIDIASIS





INTRODUCTION: 

  • fungal infection.
  • caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida .
  • most common is Candida albicans.
  • normally lives on the skin and inside the body .
  • can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain.


HISTORY:

  u  The genus Candida and species C. albicans were described by botanist Christine Marie                           Berkhout in her doctoral thesis at the University of Utrecht in 1923.

u  Over the years, the classification of the genera and species has evolved.

u  The genus Candida includes about 150 different species.

u   only a few are known to cause human infections.

u  C. albicans is the most significant pathogenic species.


HABITAT:

  • Primary habitat is the digestive tract of men and warm-blooded animals.
  • Candida albicans is not ubiquitously distributed in the nature.
  • Carriers of Candida may contaminate their immediate environment with yeasts, but that contamination does not usually spread far.


SIGN & SYMPTOMS:

u  Most candida infections result in minimal complications such as redness, itching, and discomfort.

u  white discolorations in the tongue, around the mouth, and throat. Irritation may also occur, causing discomfort when swallowing.

u  Itching, burning, soreness, irritation, and a whitish or whitish-gray cottage cheese like discharge from vagina.

u  include itching, irritation, and chafing or broken skin.

u  belching, bloating, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, gas, intestinal cramps, vomiting, and gastric ulcer. 


CAUSES:

u  Candida requires moisture for growth, notably on the skin For example, wearing wet swimwear for long periods of time is believed to be a risk factor.

u  Common causes of thrush include pregnancy, menstruation, birth control pills, diabetes, steroid or antibiotic use.

u  Those with a weak immunity are also prone to vaginal candidiasis.

u  Candida infections rarely may also be passed from person to person via unprotected sexual intercourse. 


TRANSMISSION:

u  It is usually transmitted from mother to infants through childbirth, and remains as part of a normal human’s microflora.

u  Caliban’s very rarely spread through sexual intercourse.



RISK FACTOR:

u  Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or both

u  Pregnancy

u  Use of hormonal contraceptives or contraceptive devices

u  Uncontrolled diabetes

u  Being immune compromised



VIRULENCE & FACTOR:

u  Use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or both

u  Pregnancy

u  Use of hormonal contraceptives or contraceptive devices

u  Uncontrolled diabetes

u  Being immune compromised



DIAGNOSIS:

u  The diagnosis is most commonly made on the basis of the skin appearance and occasionally a skin scrape sample is taken to confirm the clinical findings.

u  Diagnosis of yeast infection is done either via microscopic examinations or culturing.

u  For the culturing method, a sterile swab is rubbed on the infected skin surface.

u  Swab is then streaked on a culture medium.

u  Culture is incubated for several days at 37C.



TREATMENT:

u  Cutaneous candidiasis can be effectively treated with a variety of antifungal powders and creams.

u  The affected area must be kept clean and dry and protected from chafing.

u  Deep candidiasis is usually treated with intravenous fluconazole.

u  People with very low white blood cells counts may need an alternative intravenous anti-fungal drug, such as caspofungin or micafungin.