Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida species and most commonly Candida albicans.
Candida belong to the yeast species and are facultative pathogens. Candida albicans can be found in immunocompetent healthy patients in the gastrointestinaltract, pharynx and vagina.
Candidiasis occurs with immunodeficiency as in leukemia, AIDS or in obtained immunodeficiency e.g. during chemotherapy. Other candida species can be held responsible in those cases such as Candida glabrata, Candida krusei or Candida tropicalis. More than 150 types of Candida are known.
