The hidden threats of Candida spp. to the respiratory tract

Abstract

Candida spp. are considered opportunistic pathogens, even though they belong to the normal human microbiota. A critical point for health professionals is to distinguish fungal colonization from fungal infection, especially in pulmonary samples. The objective of the this study was to present evidence demonstrating that Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis) was the likely source of pneumonia in a male patient. The evidence was not considered relevant to the treatment regime of the infection because specimens were obtained from sites normally colonized by Candida spp.