Invasive candidiasis is caused by blood-borne dissemination of Candida to various tissues or organs.

Synopsis

 renal abscesses
 myocardial abscesses
 endocarditis
 meningitis
 cerebral microabscesses
 endophthalmitis
 hepatic abscesses
 Candida pneumonia
 Candida endocarditis

• most common fungal endocarditis
• usually occurring in the setting of prosthetic heart valves or in intravenous drug abusers.

In any of these locations, the fungus may evoke little or no inflammatory reaction, cause the usual suppurative response, or occasionally produce granulomas.

Predisposition

 neutropenia

• acute leukemias
• post-chemotherapy