Candida Pneumonia: An Innocent Bystander or a Silent Killer?

• Published in: Medical principles and practice Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 98 - 102
• Main Authors: Meena, Durga Shankar, Kumar, Deepak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Abscesses; Antibiotics; Antifungal agents; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Antigens; Biopsy; Brief Report; Candida; Candidiasis; Candidiasis, Invasive - drug therapy; Drug resistance; Fungal infections; Humans; Immunocompetence; Length of stay; Mortality; Neutropenia; Pneumonia; Pneumonia - drug therapy; Pneumonia - microbiology; Streptococcus infections; Ventilators; Beta-D-glucan; Pneumonia; Antifungal treatment; Candida; Colonization
• ISSN: 1011-7571; 1423-0151; 1423-0151
• DOI: 10.1159/000520111

Invasive candidiasis is predominantly seen in immunosuppressed patients and carries a significant mortality. The clinical spectrum of invasive candidiasis encompasses candidemia and disseminated infection (intra-abdominal abscess, osteomyelitis, endophthalmitis, and Candida meningitis). The existence of Candida pneumonia has been largely debated over the years due to its rarity and presence of frequent colonization. Demonstration of Candida species by lung biopsy along with evidence of inflammation is the only way to confirm this entity. The interpretation of Candida in respiratory specimens and the decision to initiate antifungal therapy is controversial due to the lack of clinical evidence. In this mini-review, we discuss the currently available clinical data from the literature on Candida pneumonia and future perspectives regarding the need for antifungal therapy in such patients.