Adherence of Candida species to fibrin clots in vitro.

The adherence of six Candida species to fibrin clots was studied using a simple, in vitro technique. Yeast suspensions were incubated with fibrin clots and the number of adherent organisms quantified as follows: after washing, the clots were subjected to vortex mixing and the number of CFU's which subsequently grew on Sabourauds medium were counted. Adhesion was directly proportional to the concentration of Candida species in the suspension (r = 0.99 p less than 0.001). C. albicans and C. tropicalis exhibited marked adherence whereas C. krusei, C. gulliermondi and C. glabrata adhered less readily. C. parapsilosis was intermediate in its ability to adhere.