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Candida - skin - Management
Basis for recommendation
- CKS identified no guidelines or trials on when to swab; recommendations are based on expert opinion in reviews of the literature:
- The culture of candida from an inflamed skin fold usually justifies starting anti-candida treatment [Hay and Moore, 2004].
- If there is no improvement after treatment, bacterial culture and sensitivity tests should be performed [Janniger et al, 2005].
- A skin swab is recommended if there is clinical suspicion of secondary bacterial infection [Laube, 2004].
- Laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis of mucocutaneous candidiasis are especially important when systemic treatment is planned [American Academy of Dermatology, 1996].
- Drug-resistant strains of Candida albicans and related species have been reported, especially in immunosuppressed people and people managed with prophylactic antifungal preparations [Evans and Gray, 2003].
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