Culture for yeast-like fungi

In the case of urogenital cultures, the collection of material is not performed at the Point of Collection. In order to perform the test, you must provide a sample taken at the doctor's office.

Sampling for yeast-like fungi

Fungal infections with yeast-like fungi (Candida albicans is the most commonly isolated species, sometimes C. crusei or glabrata) are classified as opportunistic (caused by microorganisms that are harmless to a healthy person) and endogenous (caused by yeast already present in the body). Under normal conditions, fungi in small amounts occur as a component of the natural bacterial flora of the skin, nails and mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract (they are detected in the intestines in up to 80% of people).

Infection most often occurs as a result of pathological multiplication of candida, and conditions conducive to this situation are chronic antibiotic treatment (which disrupts the composition of the intestinal bacterial flora), prolonged hospitalization and numerous comorbidities (such as. diabetes mellitus), past invasive surgical procedures, lowered immunity (as a result of infections such as  HIV or medications such as steroids), but also the presence of foreign bodies in the body (artificial valves, vascular catheters, urological catheters, drains, implants). In the latter case, a biofilm can form on their surface, that is, a permanently persistent layer of fungi, which responds very poorly to treatment and remains a source of infection for a long time.

The vast majority of Candida infections involve small areas of the skin and mucous membranes (lesions around joints, between toes, oral thrush, vaginal thrush), but in the case of a weakened mucocutaneous barrier, candida overgrows and enters deeper tissues and even blood vessels (disseminated infection). In this way, they constantly stimulate the immune system, causing inflammation, often allergic reactions.

Mycobacteria can also leave the vessels and move into organ tissues (liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, brain), causing invasive mycoses. In oncology patients (during chemotherapy, radiation therapy, after bone marrow and organ transplants), infection with them could even be life-threatening. For this reason, some patients with risk factors, established colonization of the gastrointestinal tract or a history of disseminated fungal infections receive prophylactic antifungal treatment. It is also in these patients that early diagnosis is of great importance.

When to perform a culture for yeast-like fungi?

The test is ordered for diagnostic purposes when fungal infections are suspected, especially those caused by yeast-like fungi, in order to differentiate them from those caused by bacteria or viruses. The material for the test can be any sample collected from the patient (from body fluids such as urine or blood, oral or genital swab, skin swab or scrapings, feces), taking into account the patient's reported symptoms that may suggest the location of the infection.

Screening for candidiasis can be preceded by microscopic evaluation of a direct preparation from the collected material (observation of Candida hyphae) or supplemented by serological (for antibodies present in the blood), molecular (for the presence of genetic material) tests.

Who should perform a culture for candida?

People with symptoms that may indicate a fungal infection at various sites:

• overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract: discomfort after eating, bloating, gas, diarrhea
• dermatophytosis: itching, redness, cracking of the epidermis
• mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals: white patches, irritation, pain and swelling, bad breath, white, thick discharge
• urinary system: discomfort during urination and intercourse
• organs: whitish discharge, trouble swallowing, stomach ulcers, vomiting, crampy abdominal pain, expectoration of blood-colored discharge, itching of the anal area