Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches
09:04

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches

Published on: October 27, 2013

Search for the pathogenic fungi in amniotic fluid

D Nowakowska1, J Wilczyński, K Szaflik

  • 1Research Institute Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, 93-338 Lódź, Rzgowska Str. 281/289.

Wiadomosci Parazytologiczne
|August 11, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Intra-amniotic Candida infections are rare in preterm rupture of membranes (PROM). Fungal strains were found in women with PROM, but not in amniotic fluid, suggesting routine mycologic diagnostics for these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Intra-amniotic infection by Candida species is an uncommon cause of preterm rupture of membranes (PROM).
  • Understanding the role of Candida in amniotic cavity infections is crucial for managing PROM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate mycotic invasion of the amniotic cavity in pregnant women with PROM.
  • To compare fungal presence in amniotic fluid between women with PROM and those with intact membranes.

Main Methods:

  • A study included 170 pregnant women, divided into two groups: 150 with intact membranes and 20 with PROM.
  • Amniotic fluid samples were collected and cultured on Sabouraud's medium.
  • Fungal strains were also isolated from the vagina, oral cavity, and rectum of women with PROM.

Main Results:

  • No intra-amniotic Candida infections were detected in either the PROM group or the intact membrane group.
  • Candida strains were frequently isolated from the vagina, oral cavity, and rectum of women diagnosed with PROM.
  • The presence of multifocal Candida infections in women with PROM was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Intra-amniotic infection with Candida is not a significant factor in PROM.
  • The study recommends mycologic diagnostics for pregnant women with PROM due to the high prevalence of Candida colonization.
  • Early detection and management of Candida colonization may be important in cases of PROM.

More Related Videos

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

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,...
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...
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...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
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...