If you often get yeast infections, Candida is no stranger to you. Candida is one of the most common fungi to cause disease in humans. It can cause disease in the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the female genital tract.
Species Name: Candida
Type of Microbe: Fungi
How it causes disease: Candida is a common infection in people who have weakened immune systems, as well as a common hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infection. The fungi grow in damaged tissues -- especially in the mouth or genital areas. In people with certain risk factors, Candida can cause bloodstream infections also.
How it spreads: Because Candida lives on the body without normally causing disease, yeast infections are fairly common in women, having affected almost 75% of all adult women. Infections can also sometimes be spread between sexual partners.
Who’s at risk? Individuals who have diabetes mellitus or are taking antibiotics, corticosteroids, or chemotherapy are at higher risk for genital candidiasis.
Symptoms: Inflammation of the vagina, characterized by itchiness, burning, pain, and “cottage cheese-like” discharge. Genital candidiasis in men appears as an itchy rash on the penis.
Diagnosis: Culture of blood or affected tissue or microscopic examination of affected tissues.
Prognosis: Without treatment, symptoms may persist.
Treatment: Genital candidiasis can be treated with antifungal vaginal creams or with oral fluconazole. Over-the-counter treatments are available, but errors in self-diagnosis can lead to infections that are resistant to certain medications and more difficult to treat. Bloodstream infections are more serious and require IV treatment.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases. Candidiasis. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/candidiasis_gi.html. Accessed May 21, 2009.
