PowerPoint Contents
Author: Rebecca Buxton
Citation: Rebecca Buxton. 2007.
Microscopic examinations of skin infections—yeast.
Publication Date: February 2007
Candida albicans (Enlarged view)
Slide 1. Candida albicans
This specimen from a cutaneous pustule contains yeast, which stain gram positive and are much larger than bacteria. Pseudohyphae and budding,
often present in Candida infections, are absent.
Candida albicans (Enlarged view)
Slide 2. Candida albicans
This KOH preparation of a pustule on a hand demonstrates yeasts, some of which are budding. Gram stain is often used instead of KOH preparations
to diagnose Candida infections.
Malassezia furfur (Enlarged view)
Slide 3. Malassezia furfur
The yeast Malassezia furfur (previously known as Pityrosporum orbicularae and as P. ovale) normally is found on the skin of adults. When it causes tinea (pityriasis) versicolor, a superficial cutaneous infection, it appears as yeasts and hyphae that look like "spaghetti and meatballs" as seen
in this KOH preparation of skin scrapings.
Malassezia furfur (Enlarged view)
Slide 4. Malassezia furfur
The addition of Parkers blue-black ink to a KOH preparation of M. furfur often increases the visibility of the organisms.
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