Pulmonary Disease Caused by Candida Species

Candida species are often found in sputum specimens. Their role as a possible cause of pulmonary disease is a frequent consideration, particularly in patients receiving immunosuppressive or long-standing antimicrobial therapy. At Memorial Hospital and New York Hospital, 30 patients with histologic evidence of Candida pulmonary infection were identified over a two year period. These infections reached the lungs by hematogenous spread in 10 patients and by aspiration in 16 patients. Most the patients had malignant neoplastic disease. The Candida pulmonary disease appeared to be significant clinical factor in only three cases. Experience from our institutions and from the literature indicates that Candida species rarely cause significant pulmonary disease. When such involvement is extensive, the patient is usually terminally ill from multiple other factors.