Walsh & Hoyt: Candida Species (Candidiasis)

Candida organisms are small (46 micrometers), thin-walled, ovoid cells that reproduce by budding. They exist primarily in a unicellular form, although they occasionally form hyphae and pseudohyphae. There are more than 150 species of Candida, of which 10 are considered important pathogens for humans. Of these, Candida albicans is by far the most common, particularly with respect to ocular and neurologic disease.