Germ of the Month - June 2005

This month we would like to reintroduce you to Albert (Candida albicans). Albert is one of those children who know how to take advantage of any situation!

In the strictest sense of the word there are no inherently pathogenic yeasts. Some alteration of the host's cellular defenses, physiology, or normal flora must take place before colonization, infection, and disease production can take place. Pathogenicity among yeasts is extremely variable - the most virulent is Candida albicans. Many yeasts are normal flora inhabitants of humans and constitute a resident population regularly part of the skin, surfaces, buccal mucosa, intestinal tract and vagina mucosa.¹

Clinical manifestations of candidiasis are extremely varied, ranging from acute, subacute, chronic and episodic. Involvement may be localized to the mouth, throat, skin, scalp, vagina, fingers, toes, nails, bronchi, lungs or gastrointestinal tract. It may also be systemic as in septicemia, endocarditis and meningitis. Historically this has been a well-known pathogen. Hippocrates described thrush --oral candidiasis-- in the 4th century B.C.² Factors predisposing people to candidiasis include AIDS, burn patients, young individual, pregnancy, use of oral birth control, high fruit diets, use of steroids, antibiotic therapy, immunosuppressants, cancer treatments, heart surgery, genetic deficiency, endocrine deficiency diabetes, use of catheters, and use of dirty needles.³

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans are consistently identified as some of the more important agents of nosocomial infections. In light of the recent information regarding device-associated nosocomial infections, understanding the nature of P. aeruginosa and C. albicans infections is increasingly important. These two microorganisms demonstrate: (1) an ability to form biofilms on the majority of devices employed currently, (2) increased resistance/tolerance to antibiotics when associated with biofilms, (3) documented infections noted for virtually all indwelling devices, (4) opportunistic pathogenicity, and (5) persistence in the hospital environment.⁴

We hope you enjoy introducing your staff to Albert this month as you continue your own efforts to educate and maintain
awareness about infectious disease in your facility. This information is brought to you by Mölnlycke Health Care, maker of Hibiclens® antiseptic and Hibitsat ®, convenient antimicrobial towelettes with the persistence of CHG.⁵ Our reason for all that we do is to provide you with the very best in products and support, to help you control infections. We look forward to hearing from you about our Hibigeebie® campaign. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-843-8497.

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1 http://botit.botany.wisc.edu
2 http://botit.botany.wisc.edu
3 Pierce GE. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and device-related nosocomial infections: implications, trends, and potential approaches for control.
J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2005 May 3;[ahead of print]
4 Pierce GE. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and device-related nosocomial infections: implications, trends, and potential approaches for control.
J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2005 May 3.[ahead of print]
5 Mölnlycke Health Care urges all users to read the product leaflet closely and use Hibi products only as directed.