Asymptomatic Candiduria: Prognosis, Complications and some other Clinical Considerations

Abstract

40 patients with asymptomatic funguria were followed for various periods of time. The funguria was allowed to remain untreated while the patient's primary diseases were treated in the customary way. Treatment with antibiotics and indwelling catheters favoured funguria. Funguria often disappeared when these faotors were no longer present. In 13 cases funguria disappeared in connection with the development of a Proteus infection. The simultaneous presence of funguria and bacteriuria due to other bacteria (E. coli, enterococci and Pseudomonas) was fairly common. Funguria could apparently be present for long periods of time without deleterious effects to the patients. The asymptomatic funguria that arises after the creation of ileal conduit or caeco-cystoplasty behaves like asymptomatic funguria of other origin. Patients with funguria could undergo fairly major operative procedures and even be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics without the funguria giving rise to manifest fungous infection. If, however, the patient's general condition deteriorated, potentially fatal fungous infection often developed. Asymptomatic funguria can, however, give rise to serious complications through the formation of bezoars, even though the patient's general condition is not affected. Candida serology appears to be of no value for determining whether funguria is an expression of manifest fungous infection in the urinary tract.