| Description |
Candida albicans is an oval, budding, yeastlike fungus which produces a pseudomycelium in cultures, in tissues, and in exudates. It is a member of the normal flora of the mucous membranes in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts, and in these and other locations it may gain dominance and be associated with pathological conditions; very rarely it produces systemic progressive disease. While it can occur sporadically and transiently in healthy people in which it may be carried by the blood stream to many organs includining the meninges, it is usually not able to establish itself and cause abscess formation however, it can become a problem under conditions of debilitation and drug therapy. The characteristics typifying Candida albicans and a discussion of vulvovaginal candidiasis will be presented. Results of recent research concerning its presence as normal vaginal flora in a given sample of the population will also be discussed. |
