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Cutaneous Candidiasis

Author: Noah S Scheinfeld, JD, MD, FAAD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD more...
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Updated: Feb 05, 2016

Background

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Background
Cutaneous candidiasis and other forms of candidosis are infections caused by the
yeast Candida albicans or other Candida species. Yeasts are unicellular fungi that
typically reproduce by budding, a process that entails a progeny pinching off of the
mother cell. C albicans, the principal infectious agent in human infection, is an oval
yeast 2-6 m in diameter. C albicans (as well as most medically significant fungi) has
the ability to exist in both hyphal and yeast forms (termed dimorphism). If pinched
cells do not separate, a chain of cells is produced and is termed pseudohyphae.
Superficial infections of skin and mucous membranes are the most common types of
candidal infections of the skin. Common types of candidal skin infection include
intertrigo, diaper dermatitis, erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica, perianal dermatitis,
and candidal balanitis. In certain subpopulations, candidal infection of the skin has
increased in prevalence in recent years, principally because of the increased numbers
of patients who are immunocompromised.

Esophagitis, septicemia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections are less
frequent types of candidosis. Although C albicans is the most common cause of
human infection, the genus Candida includes more than 150 species. Candida
tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondi, Candida krusei, Candida
kefyr, Candida zeylanoides, and Candida glabrata (formerly Torulopsis glabrata) are
less common causes of human disease.
Humans carry yeast fungi, including candidal species, throughout the gastrointestinal
tract (mouth through anus) as part of the normal commensal flora. The vagina also
commonly is colonized by yeast (13% of women), most commonly by C
albicans and C glabrata. The commensal oral isolation of candidal species ranges from
30-60% in healthy adults. Note that Candida species are not part of the normal flora of
the skin; however, they may colonize fingers or body folds transiently.
Also see the articles Mucosal Candidiasis and Candidiasis.
Next Section: Pathophysiology
READ MORE ABOUT CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS ON MEDSCAPE
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