Oval, budding yeast and hyphae and long pseudohyphae at 20oC
Germ tubes at 37oC
Ubiquitous on healthy skin as well as in the oropharyngeal cavi, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and vagina
Risk Factors: Immunosuppression (e.g., HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, steroids), diabetes mellitus, broad-spectrum antibiotic use (disrupts normal flora), indwelling catheters, and IV drug use.
Pathophysiology
Local infection: imbalance in local flora (e.g., triggered by antibiotic use) → local overgrowth of C. albicans → local mucocutaneous infection (e.g., oropharyngeal infection, vaginitis)
Systemic (invasive) infection: local mucocutaneous infection → breach of skin/mucosal barrier or translocation (IV catheterization, ascending infection in pyelonephritis, or resorption via GIT) → direct invasion of bloodstream (candidemia) → spread to visceral tissues → disseminated organ infection (e.g., pyelonephritis, endocarditis)