Dark-field microscope stool analysis - its role in diagnosis of yeast overgrowth in gut

Abstract

Not long after birth, yeast, predominantly Candida albicans, colonizes the epithelium of oral cavity and the whole gastrointestinal tract. C. albicans lives in yeast, a non-harming form, as a commensal member of the microbial flora, but may turn into patho?gen infective form under certain conditions that encourage its overgrowth. In this phase, it may damage the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream, causing invasive candidiasis with high mortality rate. It is essential to recognize candidaemia and start the lifesaving therapy on time. Recognizing the risk factors which allow candida to overgrow is the most important step in preventing candida?s overgrowth and chronic candidiasis, the previous status of invasive candidiasis. If this recognition is missed, and the overgrowth advances, a question remains how to discover and treat it and in which phase it should be done. A stool culture requires time and proves the presence of live yeast cells only. If the live yeast cells are not present in the stool, the result of the culture will be negative. In this paper, the author presents her experience of stool analysis under dark-field microscope, as a rapid, easy to carry out method for detecting the presence of live or dead yeast cells and yeast overgrowth.