Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance
08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

Candida krusei infections and fluconazole therapy

L P Samaranayake1

  • 1Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Medical Journal = Xianggang Yi Xue Za Zhi
|February 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Fluconazole resistance is increasing in Candida krusei, a concerning fungal pathogen, especially in immunocompromised individuals. This resistance may be driven by the widespread use of fluconazole, impacting treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Mucosal fungal infections are common, primarily caused by Candida species.
  • Candida albicans is a well-known pathogen, but non-albicans species like Candida krusei are emerging threats.
  • Compromised hosts are particularly susceptible to invasive fungal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the increasing prevalence and resistance of non-albicans Candida species, specifically Candida krusei.
  • To examine the role of fluconazole use in the rise of Candida krusei as a significant pathogen.
  • To assess the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida krusei.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing human and animal studies on fluconazole efficacy and Candida resistance.
  • Analysis of clinical data on the prevalence of non-albicans Candida infections.
  • Microbiological studies evaluating fluconazole susceptibility in Candida krusei isolates.

Main Results:

  • Candida krusei demonstrates increasing resistance to fluconazole.
  • Prophylactic and therapeutic failures of fluconazole against Candida krusei have been documented.
  • Widespread fluconazole use, particularly in HIV-infected individuals, is implicated in this resistance phenomenon.

Conclusions:

  • Emergence of fluconazole resistance in Candida krusei poses a significant clinical challenge.
  • Indiscriminate use of fluconazole may accelerate the development of azole resistance across Candida species.
  • Alternative antifungal strategies and judicious use of fluconazole are warranted to combat rising resistance.

More Related Videos

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis08:48

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients05:26

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients

Published on: March 1, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Trichomoniasis01:18

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...