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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

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Published on: July 1, 2020

Candida urinary tract infection: pathogenesis

John F Fisher1, Kevin Kavanagh, Jack D Sobel

  • 1Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA. jfisher@georgiahealth.edu

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|April 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Candida species can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in hospitalized patients. Virulence factors help these fungi invade the urinary tract through bloodstream or ascending routes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Urology

Background:

  • Candida species are uncommon causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in healthy individuals.
  • UTIs caused by Candida are more prevalent in hospital settings or in patients with underlying health conditions and urinary tract abnormalities.
  • Candida can invade the urinary tract via antegrade (bloodstream) or retrograde (urethral) pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of Candida species' colonization and invasion of the urinary tract.
  • To elucidate the virulence factors contributing to Candida urinary tract infections.
  • To understand the predisposing factors for both antegrade and retrograde Candida UTIs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of histopathologic studies on Candida adherence and invasion.
  • Elucidation of virulence factors using modern molecular biologic techniques.
  • Analysis of predisposing factors for urinary tract infections caused by Candida.

Main Results:

  • Candida species utilize virulence factors like phenotypic switching, dimorphism, and hydrolytic enzymes for colonization and invasion.
  • Antegrade infections are associated with candidemia, involving invasion of glomeruli and renal tubules.
  • Retrograde infections are linked to urine flow disturbances, instrumentation, diabetes, antimicrobial therapy, and immunosuppression.

Conclusions:

  • Candida UTIs result from a combination of fungal virulence and host susceptibility factors.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for managing and preventing Candida-related urinary tract infections.
  • Bacterial UTIs can predispose individuals to Candida colonization and subsequent infection.

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