Demonstration of Candida in Blood Smears

Abstract

To the Editor: Candida sepsis associated with various conditions of altered host resistance and with use of intravenous catheters is well documented in the literature.^{1 2 3 4 5} but as pointed out by Portnoy et al. (N Engl J Med 285:1010–1011, 1971). it is often not recognized in individual patients. Thus, it is clear that early detection of candidiasis and possibly other fungal infections by demonstration of organisms in blood smears, as those authors reported in two patients with candida sepsis, could be a useful tool. In their patients the organisms were detected in blood drawn through intravenous catheters and from a peripheral . . .