Geotrichum Candicum (fungi)

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Irene wrote:

> On the Candida diet it seems ok to take kefir/kombucha/beet kvass

>and other lacto fermented vegies. I am just wondering if you have

>them daily, don't they add to the fungus overload (not necessarily

>Candida,but others)?

Irene, lactofermented foods and drinks are not yeasty, nor a fungi,

nor moldy. Only yeasty, fungal and moldy foods, and any in the

enrironment, cause reactions in people suffering from candida or an

imbalance of, or overload of similar saprobes to candida. A Saprobe

is an organism that lives on dead organic matter, like certain fungi

and bacteria.

Lactofermented foods and drinks actually contribute to, and implant,

beneficial micro-organisms in the mucous membranes (called the flora

fauna). In addition to kefir/kombucha/beat kvass, yogurt and

rejuvelacs (cabbage, wheat grass) are also lacofermented.

>I am asking this as I have a stool test report >that shows a very

>high level of Geotrichum species. I know they are >different from

>Candida, but are a type of fungi. I don't know how to >get rid of

>them and whether having all the lacto fermented food >exacerbates

>the problem.

The Geotrichum specias was high? Did your doctor or practitioner

become alarmed and point this out to you? I say this because: " As

Geotrichum candidum is ubiquitous (everywhere) in man`s environment,

mere isolation of the fungus from sputum or stool does not establish

the diagnosis. " Also, as the following excerpts point

out: " Geotrichum is a poorly invasive organism unlike candida. "

Irene do you have clinical symptoms of having Geotrichum Candidum

overgrowth?

Here's more complete information about Geotrichum Candidum and the

url (this is about 1 page in length):

" Geotrichum Candidum Fungi "

Definitions:

-saprophyte - any organism that lives on dead organic matter, as

certain fungi and bacteria. Also called saprobe.

-arthrospores - one of a number of spores of various fungi and

certain blue-green algae, united in the form of a string of beads,

formed by fission (splitting into parts).

-duodenum - the first portion of the small intestine; starts at the

stomach.

-ileum - third and lowest division of the small intestine

-metastasis - transference of disease-producing organisms or of

malignant or cancerous cells to other parts of the body by way of the

blood or lymphatic vessels or membranous surfaces

***********************************

Excerpts from: http://www.ijnephrol.com/aprjune2003/28.htm

Geotrichum candidum is a fungus which is a saprophyte and is found on

a variety of fruits and vegetables (also isolated from soil, plants,

and many food products, most especially from milk and milk

products). It is believed to be part of the normal skin and gut

flora (like candida). It has been reported to cause disease in immuno-

suppressed people.1

It affects mainly patients with systemic diseases like diabetes

mellitus and those with neoplasms (a new, often uncontrolled growth

of abnormal tissue; tumor). Clinically it is similar to candidiasis

and may cause oral, vaginal, skin or systemic infection. There are a

few reports in literature in which Geotrichum is said to have invaded

tissue. Disseminated infection has also been reported in literature

in patients with malignancy.2

Advances in the past decade has improved preventive, diagnostic and

therapeutic capability of a variety of diseases. However certain

treatments that involve immuno-suppression predispose the host to an

expanding group of opportunistic infections. Most of these are caused

by commonly recognised opportunistic fungi like aspergillus and

candida species.

Of late, rare fungi like Candida glabrata, Trichosporon begellei,

Rodotorula species and Geotrichum candidum are emerging as

significant pathogens (any disease-producing agent).

Fungal colonization of the duodenum by Geotrichum candidum was seen

in a child with low serum (blood) levels of IgA and IgM antibodies.1

Esophageal ulcers caused by Geotrichum candidum has also been

reported in AIDS patients.3 In some patients of bronchitis and

tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea) white patches were seen

lining the trachea and bronchi and Geotrichum was isolated from the

blood tinged sputum (spit).

As Geotrichum candidum is ubiquitous (everywhere) in man`s

environment, mere isolation of the fungus from sputum or stool does

not establish the diagnosis. It has to be correlated with

demonstration of the fungus in the tissue, or confirmed by repeated

isolation from specimens. We were able to demonstrate the hyphal

forms (threadlike elements) and arthrospores in the ground tissue of

the tumour.

Geotrichum is a poorly invasive organism unlike candida.

Jagirdhar et al have reported a case of invasion of the ileum in a

patient with hairy cell leukemia.4 They have reported infrequently

branched separate hyphae without arthrospores in the tissue specimen.

More recently there has been a report of disseminated Geotrichum

infection with liver metastasis which was proven by blood culture.5

In a study of agents causing fungemia over a 10 year period,

Geotrichum candidum caused only 1.8% of cases compared to candida

which was responsible for 70% of cases.6

Interesting information isn't it?

Bee