ABSTRACT
The prevalence of Candida pneumonitis has increased remarkably in the last three decades, probably because of the increased usage of broad spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs, indwelling vascular lines, prosthetic devices, and organ transplantation. Pulmonary candidiasis can be effectively treated if recognized early in the course. This chapter deals with pulmonary candidiasis — its pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Pulmonary candidiasis can be caused by several species of Candida including C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. pseudotropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, and possibly others. Useful laboratory methods for the diagnosis of pulmonary candidiasis are essentially the isolation of the organism in culture from an otherwise sterile body fluid or tissue and the identification of the organism in biopsy specimens. The most effective treatment is a combination of amphotericin B and flucytosine. Pulmonary candidiasis may be complicated by systemic dissemination affecting other organs.
