What causes invasive candidiasis?
Invasive candidiasis occurs when Candida yeast gets into your bloodstream and spreads to internal organs.
This usually happens when a medical device is being inserted into your skin or gastrointestinal tract. Examples include a catheter draining fluid from your body or an IV that delivers nutrition or medication. A medical device can pick up Candida from your skin’s surface and carry it to your bloodstream.
Sometimes, Candida can be transmitted from a healthcare worker’s hands and contaminate a medical device, too.
What are the symptoms of invasive candidiasis?
Symptoms of candidemia and invasive candidiasis can be difficult to detect. This is because most people who develop the condition are already sick or recovering from surgery. In addition, the signs are similar to other infections, such as bacterial infections.
Symptoms of invasive candidiasis may include:
- Belly pain.
- Chills or fever.
- Low blood pressure.
- Muscle aches.
- Skin rash.
- Weakness or fatigue.
Some symptoms are specific to the location of the infection. For example, invasive candidiasis symptoms in your eyes can cause:
- Blurriness.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Vision changes.
Invasive candidiasis infection in your brain can cause:
- Confusion.
- Headaches.
- Memory loss.
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Is invasive candidiasis contagious?
Invasive candidiasis isn’t contagious from one person to another. But the yeast itself can travel from person to person and on surfaces. However, Candida would have to be introduced to the bloodstream to cause candidemia or invasive candidiasis.
