Isolation and identification of Geotrichum candidum as an etiologic agent of geotrichosis in Bulgaria.

Geotrichosis affects mainly patients with systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, leukoses, neoplasms etc. Clinically, it is similar to candidiasis and may occur as an oral, vaginal, skin, or systemic infection. Clinical specimens (98 sputa and 67 oral smears) were collected and studied using microscopic examination of Gram stained preparations and culture sampling between 1995 and 1997. Geotrichum candidum was isolated as a single pathogen in 8 sputum and 7 oral smear samples. Ten-day antifungal treatment with Nizoral was applied and resulted in relatively quick clinical improvement. The presented cases are the first cases of pulmonary and oral infections reported in our home practice in which Geotrichum candidum species was identified as a pathogen. The identification of Geotrichum candidum using combination of colonial and microscopic morphologic features increase the possibilities for diagnostic decision.