ABSTRACT
Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen of humans [1]. In its usual setting, candidiasis occurs as infections of the immunocompromised host. Thus, cutaneous, mucosal, or invasive disease is usually initiated by some predisposing condition, such as cancer chemotherapy, immunosuppression prior to allogeneic transplants, prolonged use of antibacterial antibiotics, indwelling catheters, and T-cell deficiencies. Often predisposing factors occur simultaneously, such as the presence of an indwelling catheter in a patient undergoing prolonged treatment with antibacterial drugs, the result of which is usually an invasive infection. An association with the type of candidiasis and a specific underlying host immune defect has been observed [2]. For example, neutropenia often results in severe invasive disease resulting in high mortality (Fig. 1). A T-cell deficiency (CD4 T-cell depletion) as occurs in the AIDS patient usually results in mucosal disease (oral, esophagitis, vaginitis), but the organism rarely invades the blood stream and tissues (Fig. 1). While these correlates are often observed, immunity appears to be more complex, especially as it relates to humoral immunity.
