Candida

Candida albicans is a fungus that can be described as living commensal with humans. It is commonly found on skin and other oral, gastrointestinal and genital sites.

The yeast form of the pathogen is consistent with infection in human beings. It is an opportunistic organism that may cause infection in primarily three main groups of individuals: patients who have a drug addiction and use unclean needles; patients who have long-term indwelling catheters for such treatments as renal dialysis; and patients who are immunocompromised as a result of problems such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), treatment for cancer or organ transplantation, and prolonged treatment with systemic antibiotics and corticosteroids.

Candida may lead to both intraocular and extraocular infections in the form of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, keratitis, in a setting of chronic corneal disease in a debilitated patient, anterior and posterior uveitis, retinitis and endophthalmitis.