Candida spp

• What type of organisms does the genus Candida include?

  Saprophytes, commensals, and opportunistic pathogens
• Which species of Candida is most commonly isolated?

  Candida Albicans
• How does Candida reproduce?

  Only by budding, not sexually
• What is the Gram stain result for Candida Albicans?

  Gram positive
• What is a notable feature of Candida Albicans' cell wall?

  It lacks peptidoglycan
• What does a positive catalase test indicate for Candida Albicans?

  It makes individuals with chronic granulomatous disease susceptible
• What is the morphology of Candida Albicans?

  Oval and large cells
• What type of cells can be observed in Candida Albicans?

  Eukaryotic cells with a nucleus
• Does Candida Albicans have a capsule or flagella?

  No capsule or flagella
• What type of respiration does Candida Albicans perform?

  Aerobic respiration
• What do large, round, creamy white colonies of Candida Albicans indicate?

  Growth on culture media
• What does Candida Albicans form at 20°C?

  Pseudo-hyphae and budding yeast
• What does Candida Albicans form at 37°C?

  Germ tubes and hyphae
• What does Candida Albicans ferment?

  Glucose and maltose to acid and gas
• What is the reservoir for Candida Albicans?

  Normal skin and mucosal flora
• What are some risk factors for Candida infections?

  Traumas, dysbacteriosis, immunosuppression
• What are some virulence factors of Candida Albicans?

  Adhesins and secreted aspartyl proteases
• What is morphogenesis in Candida Albicans?

  Reversible transition between yeast and filamentous forms
• What is phenotypic switching in Candida Albicans?

  Changes in antigen expression and morphology
• What is mucocutaneous candidiasis?

  Infections of skin and mucous membranes
• What are symptoms of oropharyngeal candidiasis?

  White plaque and cottony feeling in mouth
• What is candidemia?

  Invasion of the bloodstream by Candida
• What is the best initial test for Candida diagnosis?

  KOH test on wet mount preparation
• What does the KOH test show?

  Budding yeasts, hyphae, and pseudo-hyphae
• What is the treatment for Candida oesophagitis?

  Fluconazole
• What is the treatment for systemic candidiasis?

  Amphotericin B
• What is the treatment for disseminated infection or resistant Candida?

  Caspofungin