Candidiasis: A Fungal Infections Link to Antibiotic Overuse

Candidiasis is an opportunistic infection due to the overgrowth of the fungi Candida within the body. Although there are various strains of Candida, this research will focus on Candida albicans and its pathogenic effects on the body and the direct correlation to prevalence from repeated antibiotic overuse. Although rarely discussed, this infection effects approximately 9 per 100,000 people according to the CDC which makes it one of the most common blood stream infections in the U.S. Candida overgrowth although highly treatable, can be difficult to diagnose as its symptoms can be wide spread and non-specific such as fatigue, joint pain, and food intolerance. One of the main signs of overgrowth appears with issues within the gastrointestinal tract as the flora of healthy bacteria becomes overwhelmed with Candida. This phenomenon often gives providers clues to conduct a stool sample to confirm the infection. According to a literature review, studies have shown that after taking a round of oral antibiotics, the number of patients with C. albicans in their feces rose dramatically. This research will go more in depth with the development of Candidiasis and antibiotics antagonistic response in patients that are susceptible to overgrowth. At the end of this research will contain preventive measures to avoid overgrowth and the complicated treatment of this infection. This research will provide awareness to the potential dangers of antibiotic overuse and the importance of a healthy gut-brain balance