<prompt> Raynaud Braude phenomenon is seen inCandida albicansChlamydia psittaciHistoplasmaCryptococcus  <response>: Candida species:General characteristicsCultural characteristicsGram positive ovoid, elongated budding yeast-like fungiMajor pathogenic species: C.albicans, C.tropicalis, C.glabrata, C.parapsilosis, C.kruseiNon capsulatedCandida is a human commensal so infection is mostly endogenousImpoant Oppounistic pathogenBlood agar and SDA - creamy white, some are pasty and few are rough coloniesPreferred media - Sabouraud dextrose agar with or without antibiotics Gentamicin, chloramphenicol and cycloheximide Virulence factorsClinical featuresAdhesinsUrease activityExtracellular proteinasesPhospholipasesLipasesHydrolytic enzymesPhenotypic switching: from budding yeasts- Pseodohyphae-true hyphaeSuperficial infections: Cutaneous interigo, diaper rash, nail paronychia and onychomycosis and mucosal infections oral thrush, stomatitis and vaginal candidiasisDeep infections esophagitis, GIT candidiasis, endocarditis, UTIs, Meningitis, Ocular candidiasisDisseminated candidiasis and candidaemiaDiagnosisTreatmentMicroscopy: Direct Gram stain and KOH mount, Calcofluor white stain and LPCBCulture: Blood agar and SDAGerm tube test: Reynauds-Braud phenomenon positiveCorn meal agar with Tween 80: identification of speciesCHROM agar inoculation: different colour by Candida speciesSugar fermentation and assimilation testDOC - Amphotericin BAlternative - Echinocandins and Azoles Ref: Ananthanarayan 9th edition, p611-612 