The Significance of<i>Candida albicans</i>in Human Sputum

Abstract

THE presence of fungi (both yeasts and molds) in sputum has been of increasing interest since the advent of antibiotics and steroids as common therapeutic agents. In addition, the development of two potent antifungal antibiotics, nystatin and amphotericin B, has made urgent the question of significance of positive sputum cultures for fungi.In general the extensive use of steroids, penicillin, streptomycin and the tetracycline drugs has led to the more frequent finding of fungi in sputum cultures. However, the importance of this finding in relation to pulmonary disease is not understood since the organisms represent, for the most part, normal . . .