DL-986: Candida: Opportunistic Mycoses, 2 CE

Lucy Treagan, Ph.D. - Prof. Biol. Emerita - University of San Francisco Approved for 2.0 CE Level of Difficulty: Intermediate CAMLT is approved by the California Department of Public Health as a CA CLS Accrediting Agency (#21) At the present time microbial infections are most frequently caused by microorganisms that constitute the resident flora of the host rather than by exogenous pathogens. Microorganisms that are generally harmless may become virulent because of changes in the host’s resistance or because of an alteration in the composition of the host’s microbial flora, usually caused by antibiotic therapy. During the past 25 years fungi have emerged as a major cause of human illnesses. Infection with the yeast Candida is the most frequent cause of fungal disease. These yeasts are members of normal human microbial flora. They are common in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts. Candida species have also been isolated from the respiratory tract, mouth, skin, ear, and eye. Candida is a true opportunistic pathogen that under certain circumstances is able to invade tissues normally resistant to infection.