BACKGROUND: Controversy still surrounds the question whether yeasts found in the gut are causally related to disease, constitute a health hazard, or require treatment. METHODS: The authors present the state of knowledge in this area on the basis of a selective review of articles retrieved by a PubMed search from 2005 onward. The therapeutic recommendations follow the current national and international guidelines. RESULTS: Yeasts, mainly Candida species, are present in the gut of about 70% of healthy adults. Mucocutaneous Candida infections are due either to impaired host defenses or to altered gene expression in formerly commensal strains. The expression of virulence factors enables yeasts to form biofilms, destroy tissues, and escape the immunological attacks of the host. Yeast infections of the intestinal mucosa are of uncertain clinical significance, and their possible connection to irritable bowel syndrome, while plausible, remains unproved. Yeast colonization can trigger allergic reactions. Mucosal yeast infections are treated with topically active polyene antimycotic drugs. The adjuvant administration of probiotics is justified on the basis of positive results from controlled clinical trials. CONCLUSION: The eradication of intestinal yeasts is advised only for certain clearly defined indications.
BACKGROUND: Controversy still surrounds the question whether yeasts found in the gut are causally related to disease, constitute a health hazard, or require treatment. METHODS: The authors present the state of knowledge in this area on the basis of a selective review of articles retrieved by a PubMed search from 2005 onward. The therapeutic recommendations follow the current national and international guidelines. RESULTS:Yeasts, mainly Candida species, are present in the gut of about 70% of healthy adults. Mucocutaneous Candida infections are due either to impaired host defenses or to altered gene expression in formerly commensal strains. The expression of virulence factors enables yeasts to form biofilms, destroy tissues, and escape the immunological attacks of the host. Yeastinfections of the intestinal mucosa are of uncertain clinical significance, and their possible connection to irritable bowel syndrome, while plausible, remains unproved. Yeast colonization can trigger allergic reactions. Mucosal yeastinfections are treated with topically active polyene antimycotic drugs. The adjuvant administration of probiotics is justified on the basis of positive results from controlled clinical trials. CONCLUSION: The eradication of intestinal yeasts is advised only for certain clearly defined indications.
Authors: Sandrine Normand; Bruno François; Marie-Laure Dardé; Bernard Bouteille; Michel Bonnivard; Pierre-Marie Preux; Hervé Gastinne; Philippe Vignon Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2005-09-30 Impact factor: 17.440
Authors: P Manzoni; M Mostert; M L Leonessa; C Priolo; D Farina; C Monetti; M A Latino; G Gomirato Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2006-05-04 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: T Kühbacher; S J Ott; U Helwig; T Mimura; F Rizzello; B Kleessen; P Gionchetti; M Blaut; M Campieri; U R Fölsch; M A Kamm; S Schreiber Journal: Gut Date: 2006-01-09 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Louise A Walker; Donna M Maccallum; Gwyneth Bertram; Neil A R Gow; Frank C Odds; Alistair J P Brown Journal: Fungal Genet Biol Date: 2008-11-06 Impact factor: 3.495
Authors: Mary Ann Jabra-Rizk; Eric F Kong; Christina Tsui; M Hong Nguyen; Cornelius J Clancy; Paul L Fidel; Mairi Noverr Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2016-09-19 Impact factor: 3.441