This document summarizes information about the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. It notes that C. albicans is a common commensal organism typically found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of 70-80% of the population. While generally harmless at typical levels, overgrowth can lead to infection, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The document outlines some of the major forms of candidiasis, methods of transmission which mainly occur in healthcare settings or from mother to infant, and factors like temperature and sugars that promote its growth.

1. Dr. T. Ramesh
Assistant Professor of Zoology
Vivekananda College,
Tiruvedakam
Candida albicans

2. INTRODUCTION
 Opportunistic fungal pathogen- Candidiasis
 Harmless commensals- very common at
Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary tract
 70-80% of the population
 Size- 10-12 microns
 Optimum temp. 33 and 38°C; Many sugars promote the
growth
 Also in skin and in mucous membranes such as the
vagina, mouth, or rectum
 It travel through the blood stream and affect the throat,
intestines, and heart valves
 Overgrowth of these organisms, however, will lead to
disease
 Common in Immuno compromised individuals- AIDS,
Infants, Transplant recipients & low birth weight.

4. Major forms
 Oropharyngeal candidiasis

5. Transmission
 Mother to infant through childbirth
 Overgrowth of C. albicans leads to symptoms of
disease- Imbalance Ex Normal Acidicty in Vegina
 Very rarely spread through sexual intercourse
 Typical normal human microflora- Not found in
animal vectors
 People-to-people acquired infections mostly happen
in hospital
 Immunocompromised patients acquire from
Healthcare people- 40 %

6. Infectious dose, incubation,
colonization
 No exact known infectious dose
 Imbalance occurs in a woman’s vagina
 Irritation of the vagina
 Decrease the amount of lactobacillus bacteria alter the
pH
Epidemiology
United States- 30-55 % Young adults has oropharyngeal colonization
Also 40-65% of normal fecal samples

7. Thank you