[Etiopathogenesis and epidemiology of candidiasis and related yeast mycoses].

The clinically and histologically well differentiated clinical picture of candidosis (CA) is heterogenous with regard to etiology: Only about 95 per cents of the cases are caused by candida species, the rest by other cryptococcaceae species. Formal pathogenetically the CA may be primary as well as secondary. Which kind of pathogenicity is predominating depends first of all on the momentary ecological, civilisational and medical conditions. At present in unselected dermatological cases at least 90 per cents are secondary; the severe systemic cases without exception. Primarily the pathogenesis of CA is determined by certain disposing factors, being partly exogenous, partly endogenous and/or constitutional, conditional or accidental, the knowledge and consideration of them representing the basis for an effective therapy. Particular CA-forms are largely characteristic for the kind of "underlying disease". Beside the disposing factors in the pathogenesis of CA also the quantity of the germs is of great importance whereas their virulence has only a minor meaning.