Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which statement best describes the characteristics of candidiasis?

1. It is primarily a bacterial infection

2. It can be diagnosed using only clinical findings

3. It is a type of protozoan infection

4. It results from overgrowth of yeast

The correct answer is: It results from overgrowth of yeast

Candidiasis is primarily characterized as an overgrowth of yeast, specifically from the Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. This overgrowth can occur in various parts of the body, including the mouth (oral thrush), genital area (vaginal yeast infections), and skin. Factors that contribute to this overgrowth include an imbalance in the normal flora, increased moisture, antibiotic use, and immune suppression. The condition does not arise from a bacterial source, as suggested by the first choice, so it is essential to understand that candidiasis is not a bacterial infection. Additionally, while clinical findings can support the diagnosis, testing may also involve laboratory evaluation, such as culture or microscopic examination, which makes relying solely on clinical findings for diagnosis incomplete. Thus, the statement regarding diagnosis using only clinical findings does not encompass the full range of diagnostic methods used for candidiasis. Furthermore, it is not a protozoan infection, so identifying it as such is misleading because candidiasis does not involve protozoa but rather a fungal organism.