Sketchy Microbiology: Candida Albicans

Candid Canadians — Candida Albicans

Canada Flag – Candidia

(Most common cause of opportunistic mycoses)

Butterfly – Pseudo-hyphae at 25C and true Hyphae germ tubes at 37C

37 flavors snowcone booth — Candida forms germ tubes at 37C

Canadian shrubbery and snowballs – at 20C Candida is in yeast form with pseudo-hyphae formation

Cat – catalase positive, Chronic Granulomatose Disease patients are especially susceptible to this

What to keep in mind about Candida when taking a sample?

Its part of the normal flora of GI tract and Oral cavity; commonly contaminates sputum cultures

Crying baby in red swing – Sever diaper rash, when exposed to heat and humidity

Old man with cane – Candidiasis in immunocompromised

Boy with inhaler — Candidiasis in those taking steroids (Inhalatory)

White patches in boys mouth – Candida can be scraped off, but similar cancer that looks like it cannot be

Shoveling Snow with KOH Salt — KOH is used to prep plates (samples)

Slide with white patches of snow – esophagitis and white pseudo membranes caused by candida

School teacher getting hit in crotch– Vaginal Candidiasis

Max 100 CD4 — AIDS defining illness at CD4 of 100

Jar of candy – Common in Diabetics

Birth Control Pills – Increases susceptibility

Prescription pills – antibiotics can predispose yeast infections due to lowering pH

Playground open until 4pH – Candida infections don’t happen after 4 pH

Hearts on roof of slide — Candida can cause endocarditis

(IV drug users are at increased risk; Candida found in certain types of heroine that infects tricuspid valve)

Pine cones – -Azoles for minor infections

Frogs – Amphotericin B for major infections

Play Nyce — Nystatin for oral or esophageal candidiasis

Winter cap on immunocompromised man — Capsofungin for resistant candida