Mawada Mohammed

Candida Albicans

Non-albicans strains: Candida glabrata,

tropicalis, parapsilosis, others.

Classification: Dimorphic fungus- can

exist in yeast and fungal form (virulence

factor)

Genus: Candida

Species: albicans

Shape: spores and hyphae(branching

tubes that make up the body of a

multicellular fungus)

Size: 10-12 µm in diameter

Figure 1. Typical Yeast Figure 2. Typical mould

Yeast Characteristics

solitary, unicellular

reproduction via budding

rounded shape

moist & mucoid colonies

Mould Characteristics

filamentous hyphae

hyphal formation

tips may be rounded

(conidia/spores)

Gram +

Growth: reproduces by budding

pH: Needs a slightly alkaline

environment to thrive , a pH about 7.4

Temperature: 37°C, warm and damp

environments

Oxygen: Facultative anaerobes

C. Albicans is normally present on the skin and in

mucous membranes such as the vagina, mouth,

rectum, and digestive tract

The fungus also can travel through the blood

stream in immunocompromised individuals

Candida can enter newborn infants during or

shortly after birth

This organism is OPPORTUNISTIC- for example,

antibiotics kill the good bacteria leaving Candida

free to grow

Complete medical evaluation and history,

with physical exam that focuses on the

area of the body with symptoms

Diagnosis is made based on signs and

symptoms, and clusters of budding yeast

sample of the vaginal discharge or

swabs an area of oral or skin lesions,

urine, feces, and nail clippings

Fungal blood and stool cultures for

detection of Candida should be taken for

patients suspected of having deep organ

candidiasis

Tissue biopsy may be needed for

invasive systemic disease.

A common cause of Candida albicans fungus is the overuse of antibiotics or oral contraceptives

Steroid hormone medication, ex. Cortisone, or corticosteroids often prescribed for skin conditions such as rashes, eczema

Suppressed immune systems, ex. Patients with diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and that receive radiation or chemotherapy

High sugar and starch diet (yeasts live on

sugar, and starches are converted into

sugar very quickly during our digestion

process)

Frequency - most common fungal pathogen worldwide - 4th leading causes of nosocomial infections, 40%

mortality - significant mortality and morbidity in low birth-weight

infants - affects 75% women, 45% experience recurrenceA > 10 million visits/year - classified as a STD by CDC Immunocompromised - cancer and HIV-AIDs patientsC - most commonly manifested in patients with leukemia or HIV-AIDs infections. Oral candidiasis is often a clue to acute primary infectionC

Thrush Cutaneous

Most wide-spread: Candida albicans (70-90%)

As an opportunist pathogen it may be detected in

the mouth of many healthy individuals.

Non-albicans strains: Candida glabrata, tropicalis,

parapsilosis.

Candida dubliniensis: it belongs to the most

recently recognised species that was primarily

isolated from HIV infected individuals’ oral cavity.

The number of cases when it’s found in oral disorder.

Different immune deficiency conditions (the

pseudomembranosus form developes in nearly 90% of

HIV infected patients)

Diabetes mellitus

Smoking

Long term antibiotic treatment

Bad oral hygiene, trauma

Childhood and infancy

Hormonal changes

Radiotherapy

At night, during sleeping the number of yeasts

increases in the mouth

Altered microflora of the oral cavity

, contraceptives, oral sex, change of the Ph of the saliva

• Bad eating habits

• Smoking

• Bad oral hygiene

Primary oral candidiasis: affects the

tissue of the mouth and the surrounding

area

Secondary oral candidiasis: oral

manifestation of generalized candida

infection

Acute forms:

pseudomembranosus

- erythematosus

Chronic forms

- hyperplastic

papillar

plaqued (Candida

leukoplakia)

- erythematosus

(- chronical multifocal

candidiasis)

• Lesions related to Candida

(multifactorial diseases):

-

• Oral manisfestations of

systemic mucocutan

candidiasis

Primary forms Secondary forms

Yeast infection that develops in the mouth

White plaques in mouth, tongue, gums,

palate, and/or pharynx

Preventable by practicing good oral

hygiene

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

(CMC) is the label given to a group of

overlapping syndromes that have in

common a clinical pattern of persistent,

severe, and diffuse cutaneous candidal

infections. These infections affect the

skin, nails and mucous membranes.

Opportunist pathogens, Member of the normal

microflora

Their colonisation in the oral

cavity does not mean

candidiasis

• The appearance of

pseudohyphas implies

candidiasis

The prevalence of the fungal infection of the skin and

mucosa is growing all over the world.

• Its significance lies in the fact that it may significantly

worsen the life quality and expectancy of the infected

individuals.

• Could be the source of an life-threatening infection

• The most common human fungal infection.