Revisiting the History of Candidiasis

Candida infections in humans are well-documented, but their clinical manifestations have become more evident in recent years. This shift is attributed to advancements in diagnostic modalities and the increasing use of aggressive therapies, where patients are exposed to more invasive procedures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and immunosuppressive drugs. This shift is attributed to advancements in diagnostic modalities and the increasing use of aggressive therapies, where patients are exposed to more invasive procedures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and immunosuppressive drugs. This review article outlines various historical milestones regarding multiple aspects of Candida, including its taxonomy, epidemiology, pathogenicity, and therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. A thorough search of the available literature was conducted using scientific search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, utilizing appropriate Medical Subject Headings terms. Relevant research articles highlighting important historical milestones related to Candida's taxonomy, pathogenicity, clinical manifestations, diagnostic modalities, and treatment were retrieved and utilized to prepare this manuscript. The historical perspective of Candida is dynamic, and while many aspects have become clear over the years, there are still numerous areas that need further elucidation to fully understand the complex mechanisms of pathogenicity, epidemiology, and antifungal resistance. Additionally, this review aims to provide new insights that will support the development of novel antifungal molecules to expand the current antifungal armamentarium against Candida, which, at present, is limited to three classes: azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins.