The occurrence of Candida in hospital patients and normal subjects.

The distribution of different Candida species and different serogroups of C. albicans have been analysed. C. albicans is by far the most predominant species isolated from all clinical specimens. Group A of C. albicans was isolated 10 times more frequently than group B strains from patients who had respiratory infection and 4.4 times more frequently from those who had other clinical conditions. However, both serogroups were isolated at comparable frequencies from the genitals. In the instances where repeated isolation were made, colonization by one serogroup often occurs to the exclusion of the other serogroup and species. Thus, it was frequently observed that individual patients often gave repeated isolation of one serogroup of C. albicans only. These findings are of obvious diagnostic relevance and may facilitate the evaluation of possible clinical significance of laboratory studies.