A fung al infection that occurs when Candida (a
yeast-like fungus) enters the bloodstream and then spreads through the body. Candida
is the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infection among hospitalized patients
in the US. A survey found that candidemia (bloodstream infection with Candida) 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.
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 patient’s organs
may fail and cause death.
Invasive candidiasis may result when a person’s 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.
Invasive candidiasis is usually diagnosed by either culture of blood or tissue
or by examining samples of infected tissue under the microscope. Invasive candidiasis
is usually treated with an antifungal agent called amphotericin B that is given
intravenously(IV) (in the vein) or it may be treated with the azole drugs taken
by mouth or IV.
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