Candida Yeast Commensal Infection Facts
Candida Yeast Infections of Mouth, GI Tract, Mucosal Tissues, Organs
Apr 7, 2009
Candida albicans is only one of a few species of yeasts found in and on humans. It prefers sugar or glycogen-rich, moist environments. Candida thrives on human mucosal tissues, like the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, where it competes with the more numerous and simpler bacteria. Candida is a fermenter, as are most yeasts. Fermentation enzymes inside the Candida yeast cells generate energy and molecules for growth and survival of the yeasts. Sugar and hydrolyzed glycogen are the raw materials for fermentation.
Candida albicans Commensal Yeast Features
Candida albicans is:
- a member of the fungi and one of only a few that may cause human disease
- a yeast (fungus) that reproduces by budding (blastospores).
- able to form pseudohyphae and real hyphae, especially when invading host tissues, or in specialized culture conditions that promote pseudohyphae.
- present in low numbers, normally a few hundred cells per gram of tissue, but thousands to millions when unchecked or out of control.
- suppressed by other microbes, mainly bacteria (termed normal flora) in mouth, GI tract, vagina
- irritating, debilitating and even life-threatening in acute and chronic forms of disease. Candida normally causes disease in cutaneous (skin and nails) and mucocutaneous (mouth, GI tract) sites; however, Candida may even invade the blood stream and attack internal organs such as the kidney, liver, spleen, lungs and the heart and its valves (endocarditis).
Candida Yeast Infections: Factors that Promote Growth and Multiplication
- steroids such as prednisone suppress white blood cell activities; hormones like estrogen and progesterone promote glycogen in tissue and directly stimulate Candida cells
- antibiotics kill or inactivate normal flora bacteria which typically suppress Candida
- immunosuppressive drugs shut down the normal immune system (innate host defenses)
- illegal drug use: heroin and IV-drug users risk Candida infections via contaminated needles that may lead to endocarditis (heart infection), pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and other deep organ disease
- hypo- forms of each of the following: thyroidism, adrenalism, parathyroidism
- cancers, or immune disorders such as chronic granulomatous disease
- AIDS patients
- surgery and indwelling catheters
Candida Yeast Infections Treament and Control
Control of Candida relates directly to restoration or supplementation of normal flora and innate body defenses. Sometimes, this is not possible because the steroids, immunosuppressants, or antibiotics cannot be stopped and must be taken for shorter or longer periods of time. What is needed is proper and wise oversight by a physician, rigorous monitoring and proper medications and supplements. The following ideas are relevant and should be discussed with medical doctors:
- Maintenance of relevant medications
- Use of anti-candidal drugs to control rampant yeast infections, this includes mycostatin or azoles for topical treatments and amphotericin B alone or combined with 5-fluorocytosine for deep infections; ketoconazole and fluconazole are additional choices for therapy.
- Use of appropriate normal flora restoratives: yogurt and kefir contain microbes that are healthful. NOTE: Some bacterial antibiotics are inactivated by calcium and milk products, therefore be advised accordingly. Antibiotic warnings and cautions should be read and heeded. Consult a physician or pharmacist for details.
Candida Yeasts are Opportunistic Pathogens
Candida albicans, and about 7 other species of the genus Candida, may cause human disease. Opportunistic pathogens are microbes that are not typically pathogens but, when provided the right circumstances as shown above, they can cause disease in one form or another. Candida spp. may be considered as true opportunists.
Be sure to click on the pictures below to enlarge and see the yeast and disease conditions in better detail.
Sources
Mitchell, T.G. 2004. Medical Mycology, in Medical Microbiology edited by G.F. Brooks, J.S. Butel, and S.A. Morse. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, New York. 818 pp.
Murray, P.R., K.S. Rosenthal, G.S. Gobayashi, M.A. Pfaller.1998. Medical Microbiology. Mosby, St. Louis. 719 pp.
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