8 1992 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Candida albicans is found in the mouth and gas-trointestinal tract of a significant proportion of the normal human population. This opportunist pathogen can cause deep-seated infection, which may be local-ised or disseminated, but is more often seen causing mucosal or cutaneous infection. Although C. albicans remains the predominant cause of all forms of human candidosis, C. tropicalis has emerged as an important pathogen in neutropenic patients and C. parapsilosis infection is common in individuals receiving parenteral nutrition. Other Candida species have also been recognised as significant pathogens. Imidazole and triazole compounds are amongst the most useful drugs for the treatment of human candi-dosis. They inhibit the C- 14 a-sterol demethylatio