Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (498 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Infection with a fungus of the genus candida. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist areas of the body and is generally caused by candida albicans. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Candidiases; Moniliasis; Moniliases; Candida Infection; Candida Infections; Infection, Candida.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Mycoses
- Narrower topics
- Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Candidiasis, Cutaneous; Candidiasis, Invasive; Candidiasis, Oral; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal
Related concepts
- Candida
- Candida Albicans
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 36,846 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Candidiasis” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 4,894 of them (13.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 16,424 records.
Reviews account for 4,655 records (12.6%) and meta-analyses for 185. Randomized controlled trials number 731 (2.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 16,424 |
| 2000-2009 | 7,164 |
| 2010-2019 | 8,364 |
| 2020 onward | 4,894 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 4,655 | 12.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 185 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 731 | 2.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Candidiasis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in infectious diseases
Infectious disease evidence combines microbiology, epidemiology and clinical trials. Laboratory studies identify pathogens and how they cause harm; surveillance and outbreak investigations describe who is affected and how infection spreads; trials establish whether treatments and vaccines work. Results depend on place and time, because pathogens evolve and resistance patterns and population immunity change. Check when and where the data were collected, how cases were defined and how up to date the evidence is.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic expression of candidalysin facilitates oral colonization of Candida albicans in mice | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 16 | cc by PMID 40998980 · DOI · PMC12488495 |
| Innovative antifungal strategies to combat drug-resistant Candida auris: recent advances and clinical implications | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 10 | cc by PMID 40822589 · DOI · PMC12350400 |
| State-of-the-Art Review: Managing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 9 | cc by PMID 41839452 · DOI · PMC13017020 |
Dynamic expression of candidalysin facilitates oral colonization of Candida albicans in mice [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Candida albicans is a common fungal member of the human microbiota but can also cause infections via expression of virulence factors associated with the yeast-to-hyphae transition.
- Closing excerpt
- albicans to create and maintain its niche in the oral mucosa.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (153 words)
Candida albicans is a common fungal member of the human microbiota but can also cause infections via expression of virulence factors associated with the yeast-to-hyphae transition. The evolutionary selection pressure to retain these pathogenic traits for a commensal microorganism remains unclear. Here we show that filamentation and hyphae-associated factors, including the toxin candidalysin, are crucial for colonization of the oral cavity, a major reservoir of C. albicans. Low-virulent strains of C. albicans expressed the candidalysin-encoding gene ECE1 transiently upon exposure to keratinocytes in vitro. In mice, ECE1 mutants were defective at accessing terminally differentiated oral epithelial layers where the fungus is protected from IL-17-mediated immune defence. Tight regulation of ECE1 expression prevented detrimental effects of candidalysin on the host. Our results suggest that hyphae-associated factors such as candidalysin govern not only pathogenicity, but also mucosal colonization through direct host interactions enabling C. albicans to create and maintain its niche in the oral mucosa.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40998980 · DOI · PMC12488495
Innovative antifungal strategies to combat drug-resistant Candida auris: recent advances and clinical implications [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Candida auris is an invasive fungal pathogen recognized globally as a significant health threat due to its marked resistance to multiple classes of antifungal agents, including azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes.
- Closing excerpt
- auris infections.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
Candida auris is an invasive fungal pathogen recognized globally as a significant health threat due to its marked resistance to multiple classes of antifungal agents, including azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes. The associated high morbidity and mortality rates present considerable public health challenges. Research efforts have largely focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance and developing alternative therapies to counteract this issue. This review summarizes current advances in the identification of natural antifungal compounds, the development of novel synthetic agents, biological antifungals, nanotechnology-based approaches, combination therapies, and photodynamic treatments. Notably, several synthetic compounds such as rezafungin and fosmanogepix are in clinical trials for C. auris infections. Biological antifungals, including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and peptides, have shown the capacity to enhance host immune responses and reduce mortality in murine models. Combination therapies have proven particularly valuable for overcoming resistance by exploiting synergistic effects and broadening antimicrobial coverage. Despite these promising developments, majority of studies have been conducted in vitro, with a relative lack of in vivo or human research. Therefore, further investigation is needed to validate the efficacy and safety of these alternative antifungal strategies for the treatment of drug-resistant C. auris infections.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40822589 · DOI · PMC12350400
State-of-the-Art Review: Managing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most prevalent infections in women worldwide.
- Closing excerpt
- Future approaches should focus on modulating host and environmental factors to prevent recurrence, reduce resistance, and improve outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (152 words)
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most prevalent infections in women worldwide. Together with its recurrent form, it affects millions of women annually, causing significant symptoms and severely impacting quality of life. This review examines the pathophysiology, risk factors, microbiome interactions, clinical manifestations, and challenges in diagnosing and managing vulvovaginal candidiasis, with emphasis on recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. While Candida albicans is the primary cause, non-albicans species are increasingly common. Multiple factors contribute to both forms, including hormonal changes, diabetes, antibiotic use, immune dysfunction, and genetics. The vaginal microbiome plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis and preventing Candida overgrowth. Symptoms such as itching, discharge, and soreness overlap with other conditions, complicating the diagnosis. Standard treatment involves topical or systemic antifungals, but recurrence and resistance are frequent. Emerging strategies include novel antifungals, immunomodulators, and vaccines. Future approaches should focus on modulating host and environmental factors to prevent recurrence, reduce resistance, and improve outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41839452 · DOI · PMC13017020
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article PCR diagnosis of invasive candidiasis: systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Candida auris: A systematic review and meta-analysis of current updates on an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen [5]
- Research article Invasive candidiasis [6]
- Research article Worldwide emergence of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis: current framework and future research roadmap [7]
- Research article Invasive Fungal Diseases in Adult Patients in Intensive Care Unit (FUNDICU): 2024 consensus definitions from ESGCIP, EFISG, ESICM, ECMM, MSGERC, ISAC, and ISHAM [8]
- Research article Risk Factors for Invasive Candida Infection in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [9]
References
- Fróis-Martins R, Lagler J, Schille TB, Elshafee O, Martinez de San Vicente K, Mertens S, et al.. Dynamic expression of candidalysin facilitates oral colonization of Candida albicans in mice. . 2025. PMID 40998980 · DOI · PMC12488495
- Du W, Wang Q, Zhao M. Innovative antifungal strategies to combat drug-resistant Candida auris: recent advances and clinical implications. . 2025. PMID 40822589 · DOI · PMC12350400
- Rautemaa-Richardson R, Sobel JD, Stone N, De Seta F, Cassone A, Vieira-Baptista P, et al.. State-of-the-Art Review: Managing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. . 2026. PMID 41839452 · DOI · PMC13017020
- Avni T, Leibovici L, Paul M. PCR diagnosis of invasive candidiasis: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Microbiol. 2011. PMID 21106797 · DOI · PMC3043518
- Osei Sekyere J. Candida auris: A systematic review and meta-analysis of current updates on an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen. Microbiologyopen. 2018. PMID 29345117 · DOI · PMC6079168
- Lass-Flörl C, Kanj SS, Govender NP, Thompson GR, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Govrins MA. Invasive candidiasis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2024. PMID 38514673 · DOI
- Daneshnia F, de Almeida Júnior JN, Ilkit M, Lombardi L, Perry AM, Gao M, et al.. Worldwide emergence of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis: current framework and future research roadmap. Lancet Microbe. 2023. PMID 37121240 · DOI · PMC10634418
- Bassetti M, Giacobbe DR, Agvald-Ohman C, Akova M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Arikan-Akdagli S, et al.. Invasive Fungal Diseases in Adult Patients in Intensive Care Unit (FUNDICU): 2024 consensus definitions from ESGCIP, EFISG, ESICM, ECMM, MSGERC, ISAC, and ISHAM. Intensive Care Med. 2024. PMID 38512399 · DOI · PMC11018656
- Thomas-Rüddel DO, Schlattmann P, Pletz M, Kurzai O, Bloos F. Risk Factors for Invasive Candida Infection in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Chest. 2022. PMID 34673022 · DOI · PMC8941622
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.