Other oral Candida species (Non-albicans Candida) (NAC)

Other oral Candida species refers to a diverse group of fungal pathogens within the genus Candida, excluding the most common species, Candida albicans, that are found in the human oral cavity. This group, frequently referred to as non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, includes clinically significant organisms such as Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida dubliniensis (StatPearls, 2023). While these species are often part of the normal oral flora, they can cause opportunistic infections known as oral candidiasis, particularly in patients with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or those undergoing chemotherapy (Journal of Fungi, 2021). These species are of particular clinical concern because they often exhibit higher levels of resistance to conventional antifungal agents compared to Candida albicans; for example, Candida krusei is intrinsically resistant to fluconazole (Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2017). Treatment strategies involve the use of polyenes, azoles, or echinocandins, but the choice of therapy is increasingly guided by species-specific susceptibility profiles to ensure efficacy and prevent the further development of resistance.

Other names

Non-albicans Candida speciesNAC speciesOral non-albicans CandidaNon-albicans Candida (NAC)

Antifungal agents targeting these species typically act by inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis (azoles), disrupting the fungal cell membrane (polyenes), or inhibiting the synthesis of 1,3-beta-D-glucan in the fungal cell wall (echinocandins) (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2017).