Definition – What is meant by yeast fungi in the intestine?
Yeast fungi such as Candida albicans are found on the skin or mucous membranes of about 30% of all healthy people. These yeast fungi are facultative pathogens, which means that they only cause infection in immunocompromised patients. If the immune system is weakened slightly, an infection of the outer skins or mucous membranes can occur – if the immune system is severely weak, it can also lead to infection of internal organs, such as the intestines. The human body often comes into contact with yeast fungi, for example through food or physical contact. This does not matter for immunocompetents and the yeast fungi are contained by the cells of our immune system.
Causes – How do yeast fungi enter the intestine?
The most common pathogen in relation to yeast colonization is Candida albicans. This yeast fungus is detectable in about one third of all healthy people and is responsible for a large proportion of yeast infections of the intestine. Candida albicans is a facultative pathogen, which means “possibly pathogenic”.
Thus, Candida albicans can be present in the intestine without causing an infection. Only when the body’s immune system is unable to contain the facultative pathogen, the disease develops. If the bacterial flora of the skin or mucous membrane changes or a patient develops an immune deficiency, overgrowth of yeast fungi may occur.
Diseases that are associated with a severe weakening of the immune system and thus with an increased risk of yeast fungus overgrowth in the intestine are primarily tumor diseases, diabetes, leukemia or infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The condition after an organ transplantation also describes these facts. Drugs such as steroids, antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs also lead to changes or damage to the natural intestinal flora. Extreme stress with a high level of stress can also lead to an increased susceptibility to yeast infections of the intestinal mucosa. Is human-to-human transmission also possible?
