Organisms once thought to be common contaminants are now confirmed pathogens in immunocompromised patients. Certain predisposing conditions can contribute to a suppressed immune status. It is very important for early and accurate diagnosis to occur so that the appropriate treatments can begin. The sooner a serious fungal infection is diagnosed, the earlier specific antifungal therapy may be initiated. Accurate detection and identification can save days to weeks in diagnosis.
Early diagnosis increases the patients' chances for a favorable clinical outcome.
Yeasts are single celled organisms that are ubiquitous in our environment. They are commonly found on many plants, including fruits and vegetables. They exist as normal flora both inside and outside of our bodies on mucocutaneous membranes of humans, particularly the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. Yeasts are often detected in many clinical specimens, but normally have no clinical significance. The most commonly isolated species is Candida albicans.