The Incidence of Different Candida Albicans Infections in Durres Area

Abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is responsible for candidiasis in human hosts. C. albicans grow in several different morphological forms, ranging from unicellular budding yeast to true hyphae with parallel-side wall. Its ability to transform from yeast to hyphae is considered as a virulence factor. The vast majority of Candida infections are mucosal, but in severe cases, the fungus can penetrate through epithelial layers into deeper tissues, reach the blood stream and, from there, may cause life-threatening systemic infections. Our study was carried out between July 2013 and June 2014. This study is part of a 3 -year study related with C. albicans infections in Durres area. In previous studies we have found the relation of these infections by gender, age groups, seasons. In this study we wanted to show which of these C. albicans infections was the most prevalent for this period of time in Durres area. A number of 2641 persons suspected for C. albicans intestinal, cutaneous, throat or genital infections, came in the Laboratory of Microbiology, DRSH, Durres, Albania, from July 2013 till June 2014. 655 persons out of 2641 were suspected for C. albicans feaceal infections, 97 persons out of 2641 were suspected for C. albicans cutaneous infections, 764 out of 2641 persons were suspected for C. albicans throat infections, 1125 out of 2641 persons were suspected for C. albicans genital infections. It has resulted that the most prevalent C. albicans infections in Durres area, for the period of time time July 2013 - June 2014 were the cuteneous infections.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p450