YEAST IN THE URINE - SOLUTIONS FOR A BUDDING PROBLEM

The significance of candiduria ranges from simple procurement-related contamination to disseminated candidiasis, Ensuring that a valid urine specimen is collected and carefully assessing patients for risk facto rs predisposing to disseminated candidiasis permit the stratification of cases into three clinical categories: (1) asymptomatic candiduria i n a previously healthy patient; (2) candiduria in a high-risk patient in whom disseminated candidiasis is unlikely; and (3) candiduria in a high-risk patient with a potential for disseminated candidiasis, Strat egies for management are tailored to the individual patient. Appropria te management of anatomic genitourinary abnormalities and removal of b ladder catheters may result in the resolution of candiduria, although some patients require systemic antifungal therapy. All patients with c andiduria should be evaluated for evidence of deep-seated tissue infec tion or candidemia before therapy is instituted, Fluconazole appears t o be a safe and effective agent for the management of candidal urinary tract infection, Both its safety and its ease of administration make it superior to amphotericin B for this purpose.