Which term refers to a yeast commonly found in the oral cavity, GI tract, and female genital tract, and sometimes in the skin?

Which term refers to a yeast commonly found in the oral cavity, GI tract, and female genital tract, and sometimes in the skin?

• A. Candida
• B. Fungi
• C. Endospores
• D. Gram Negative

Answer: (A)

Candida is a yeast that commonly lives on mucous membranes such as the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract, and it can also be found on the skin. It’s a fungus, specifically a genus that includes species like Candida albicans, which is the usual cause of yeast infections such as thrush and vaginal candidiasis. This organism is part of the normal flora and usually harmless, but it can overgrow when the balance of microbes is disrupted or the immune system is weakened. The other options refer to broader groups or different kinds of organisms: fungi is the larger kingdom that includes Candida; endospores are a resistant form produced by some bacteria (and in some fungi), not a description of a yeast; Gram negative describes a bacterial cell-wall characteristic, not a yeast. So the term that fits the description is Candida.

Candida is a yeast that commonly lives on mucous membranes such as the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract, and it can also be found on the skin. It’s a fungus, specifically a genus that includes species like Candida albicans, which is the usual cause of yeast infections such as thrush and vaginal candidiasis. This organism is part of the normal flora and usually harmless, but it can overgrow when the balance of microbes is disrupted or the immune system is weakened. The other options refer to broader groups or different kinds of organisms: fungi is the larger kingdom that includes Candida; endospores are a resistant form produced by some bacteria (and in some fungi), not a description of a yeast; Gram negative describes a bacterial cell-wall characteristic, not a yeast. So the term that fits the description is Candida.