DR A. Di Salvo: CANDIDIASIS (Candida Albicans)
DR A. Di Salvo: CANDIDIASIS (Candida Albicans)
DR A. Di Salvo: CANDIDIASIS (Candida Albicans)
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Dr A. Di Salvo
Yeasts are single-celled budding organisms (figure 1). They do not produce mycelia. The colonies are usually visible on the plates in 24 to 48 hours. Their soft, moist colonies resemble bacterial cultures rather than molds. There are many species of yeasts that can be pathogenic for humans. We shall discuss only the two most significant species: 1. Candida albicans 2. Cryptococcus neoformans
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remain attached to each other. Spores may be formed on the pseudomycelium. These are called chlamydospores and they can be used to identify different species of Candida. Some mycologists think that the pseudomycelial form represents a more invasive form of the organism. The species are identified by biochemical reactions. The organism occurs world-wide. The drugs of choice for systemic infection are itraconazole and fluconazole. If an artificial heart valve or in-dwelling catheter becomes infected, it must be replaced. Drug therapy alone will not suppress the organism if the foreign body remains in the host. This resistance is due to biofilms which we will discuss later.
CANDIDA SPECIES Candida species (other than albicans) account for an increasing number of nosocomial infections. Speciation is important because there is significant antibiotic resistance among the different species.
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Figure 1. Brewer's yeast (also known as Baker's yeast) with bud and bud scars (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. Used with permission Figure 2. Candida albicans - yeast and hyphae stages. A yeast-like fungus commonly occuring on human skin, in the upper respiratory, alimentary & female genital tracts. This fungus has a dimorphic life cycle with yeast and hyphal stages. The yeast produces hyphae (strands) and pseudohyphae. The pseudohyphae can give rise to yeast cells by apical or lateral budding. Causes candidiasis which includes thrush (an infection of the mouth and vagina) and vulvo-vaginitis. Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. Used with permission Figure 3. Oval budding yeast cells of Candida albicans. Fluorescent antibody stain. CDC/Maxine Jalbert, Dr. Leo Kaufman. [email protected] Figure 4. Oral thrush. CDC Figure 5. Gross pathology of rabbit kidney lesions due to experimental Candida albicans infection. Rabbit was cortisone-treated. CDC Figure 6. Sputum smear from patient with pulmonary candidiasis. Gram stain. CDC
Figure 7. Histopathology of Candida albicans infection. Methenamine silver stain. Pseudohyphae and true hyphae. ASCP Figure 8. Histopathology of Candida esophagitis. Methenamine silver stain (digitally colorized). CDC Figure 9. Candida albicans showing germ tubes. Calcofluor white stain in peptone medium. Germ tube production is a diagnostic feature of C. albicans. CDC/Mercy Hospital, Toledo, OH/Dr. Brian Harrington Figure 10. Candida albicans showing germ tube production in serum. Gram stain. CDC/Dr. Lucille K. Georg Figure 11. Gram-stain of vaginal smear showing Candida albicans epithelial cells and many gramnegative rods. (1,000X oil) Danny L. Wiedbrauk, Warde Medical Laboratories, Ann Arbor, Michigan and The MicrobeLibrary