The significance of Candida pulcherrima findings in human clinical specimens.

From 1971 to 1976 the author examined by cultivation on Sabouraud glucose agar, 1720 specimens of the most varied materials--skin scales, nails, hair, beard, sputum--obtained from patients suffering from skin problems. In no one single case did he find Candida pulcherrima. However, since 1977 he has found C. pulcherrima to be on an increase. From 1977 to 1984 in 4644 specimens C. pulcherrima was found in 44 cases. 38 strains, i.e. 86%, were isolated from patients with clinical diagnosis of mycotic infection. The most frequent diagnosis was onychomycosis, 36%. Cultivation findings were mostly profuse and massive relative to the number of germs, in some patients even occurring repeatedly. In view of these findings it may be necessary to revise the views purporting the finding of C. pulcherrima from human material to be insignificant.