candida

candida, any of the pathogenic and parasitic fungi that make up the genus Candida in the order Saccharomycetales, which contains the ascomycete yeasts. In humans, pathogenic species of Candida can cause diseases such as candidiasis and thrush. When candidiasis occurs in the vagina, the condition is generally called a yeast infection.

Most infections involving Candida are caused by C. albicans. However, any of multiple species of Candida can infect humans. These infections occur primarily in the mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract. The most dangerous Candida species is C. auris, which is considered a global health threat because of its tendency to cause outbreaks of severe illness in health care settings, such as hospitals. C. auris is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, making it extremely difficult to manage.