Isolation and identification of candida from the oral cavity

A number of methods of sampling the oral cavity for the presence of candida have been developed. Such techniques play an important role in the diagnos is and management of oral candidosis. In the past, identification of candid a isolated from the oral cavity has usually been limited to the genus Candi da or to the species C. albicans, However, with the recognition that Candid a species differ in the production of putative virulence factors and sensit ivity to antifungal agents, greater emphasis has been placed on identificat ion of isolates to species level. As a result a range of commercially avail able systems for yeast identification can now be used in conjunction with t raditional identification procedures.