Candida albicans

A common yeast-like fungus normally present in the mucous membranes of the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina of healthy people; under certain circumstances, may cause superficial infections of the skin, mouth, or vagina. It is also an opportunistic pathogen in frank infections. Common causes of infection: recent antibiotic therapy, cytoxic therapy, corticosteriod therapy, radiation therapy to the head and neck or other immunosuppressive disorders such as HIV. In the mouth, referred to as thrush.