The Growth of Candida albicans in Nutritive Solutions Given Parenterally

Abstract

The ability of Candida albicans (American type culture collection 10231) a known human pathogen, to grow in various amino acid and dextrose mixtures available for human parenteral nutrition was investigated in vitro by colony counts, generation times, and growth curve analysis. Growth of this pathogen occurred rapidly in all mixtures at 30 and 37 C, was inhibited by cooling to 4 C. Growth was greater in solutions containing amino acids, dextrose, and electrolytes than it was in dextrose, or amino acids, or amino acid with electrolytes alone. Growth varied to the quantity of the constituent amino acids. Thus cooling should be an essential feature of storage and the actual content of these mixtures should be a consideration before embarking on therapy.