Candida glabrata: A powerhouse of resistance

Abstract

Introduction. Candida glabrata (Nakoseomyces glabratus) is a haploid, budding yeast that causes opportunistic nosocomial infections and is garnering increasing attention in line with its changing epidemiological importance. It is a commensal of the human mucosa, particularly oral, gastrointestinal, and vaginal epithelia, which predisposes to infection. The physical disruption of the epithelial layer is a major risk factor for systemic C. glabrata infection, which generally occurs in immunocompromised individuals. C. glabrata appears to lack the brute force traits of other Candida species such as filament formation leading to tissue damage and immune cell lysis but nevertheless leads the non-Candida albicans species in the number of patients it infects. Infections caused by C. glabrata are of great concern due to their propensity for drug resistance and limited treatment options. This article discusses the intrinsic and acquired factors contributing to C. glabrata’s increasing resistance to pharmaceutical intervention.