Candida Infections of the Genitourinary Tract

Abstract

SUMMARYAll humans are colonized withCandidaspecies, mostlyCandida albicans, yet some develop diseases due toCandida, among which genitourinary manifestations are extremely common. The forms of genitourinary candidiasis are distinct from each other and affect different populations. While vulvovaginal candidiasis affects mostly healthy women, candiduria occurs typically in elderly, hospitalized, or immunocompromised patients and in neonates. Despite its high incidence and clinical relevance, genitourinary candidiasis is understudied, and therefore, important questions about pathogenesis and treatment guidelines remain to be resolved. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about genitourinary candidiasis.

A murine model for catheter-associated candiduria

“…Clinical studies have consistently identified similar predisposing risk factors including old age, female sex, prior antibiotic usage and indwelling urine-draining devices (Alvarez-Lerma et al, 2003;Kauffman et al, 2000). Although the clinical significance of candiduria is disputed (Achkar & Fries, 2010), it is of concern that large studies in hospitalized and renal-transplant patients have reported reduced survival of candiduric patients compared with control populations (Alvarez-Lerma et al, 2003;Bougnoux et al, 2008;Safdar et al, 2005). Studies have reported that 8 % of candiduric patients developed candidaemia with the same species (Bougnoux et al, 2008).…”

Candida Species in the Genital Tract of Women Attending a University Hospital for Gynecological Interventions

“…It is also noted that many genital infections are asymptomatic; therefore, laboratory tests are important in the diagnosis and identification of the causative organism 1,19 . Some species, such as C. glabrata and C. krusei may not respond to treatment when fluconazole is chosen as the antifungal.…”

“…Infectious vaginitis is mainly caused by bacteria, yeasts and Trichomonas vaginalis 1,2 . Among these diseases, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common infection, representing 20 to 30% of gynecologic diseases occurring in women aged 20 to 30 years 3 .…”

The anti-candidal activity of Pelargonium graveolens essential oils against clinical isolates of Candida albicans

“…The emergence of antibiotic resistant C. albicans 18,19 along with the essential role of C. albicans in high incidence of infections 20,21 have been persuaded the scientist to find the new antifungal agents especially among the medicinal plants.…”