Frequently Asked Questions
What
is invasive candidiasis?
Invasive candidiasis is a fungal infection that
occurs when Candida species enter the blood, causing bloodstream
infection and then spreading throughout the body.
How
common is invasive candidiasis and who can get it?
One form of invasive candidiasis, candidemia, is
the fourth most common bloodstream infection among hospitalized
patients in the United States.. A survey conducted at CDC found
that candidemia occurs in 8 of every 100,000 persons per year.
Persons at high risk for candidemia include low-birth-weight babies,
surgical patients, and those whose immune systems are deficient.
What
are the symptoms of invasive candidiasis?
The symptoms of invasive candidiasis are not specific.
Fever and chills that do not improve after antibiotic therapy
are the most common symptoms. If the infection spreads to deep
organs such as kidneys, liver, bones, muscles, joints, spleen,
or eyes, additional specific symptoms may develop, which vary
depending on the site of infection. If the infection does not
respond to treatment, the patients organs may fail and cause
death.
How
is invasive candidiasis transmitted?
Invasive candidiasis may result when a persons
own Candida organisms, normally found in the digestive
tract, enter the bloodstream. On rare occasions, it can also occur
when medical equipment or devices become contaminated with Candida.
In either case, the infection may spread throughout the body.
How
is invasive candidiasis diagnosed?
Invasive candidiasis is usually diagnosed by either
culture of blood or tissue or by examining samples of infected
tissue under the microscope.
How
is invasive candidiasis treated?
Invasive candidiasis is usually treated with Amphotericin
B given intravenously(IV) (in the vein) or with azole drugs taken
by mouth or IV.
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