Candidiasis
Candidiasis or
thrush is a fungal infection of any species from the genus
Candida.
Candida albicans is the most common agent of Candidiasis in humans. Also commonly referred to as a
yeast infection, candidiasis is also technically known as
candidosis,
moniliasis, and
oidiomycosis. Candidiasis encompasses infections that range from superficial, such as oral thrush and vaginitis, to systemic and potentially life-threatening diseases.
Candida infections of the latter category are also referred to as candidemia or invasive candidiasis, and are usually confined to severely immunocompromised persons, such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients, as well as nontrauma emergency surgery patients. Superficial infections of skin and mucosal membranes by
Candida causing local inflammation and discomfort are common in many human populations. While clearly attributable to the presence of the opportunistic pathogens of the genus
Candida, candidiasis describes a number of different disease syndromes that often differ in their causes and outcomes.