DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i02.019

Pages: 572-574

Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) of humans has inner lining which is known as mucous membrane. These inner lining of GI tract has major role in saving the stomach from acids present in the stomach. It prevents injury to the GI tract by coating the walls. If the mucous layer of GI tract gets damaged then acid can damage the GI tract. The Candida is yeast like fungi. The yeasts are spherical, oval or elongated and reproduce by budding. Candida albicans is normally present in the mouth, intestine and vagina. Candida albicans is a frequent component of the human indigenous microbial flora of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of apparently healthy individuals. C. albicans can increase in numbers when this balance is disturbed to cause candidiasis of the intestinal tract, or yeast infections of other parts of the body. C. albicans causes thrush. The aim of the present study is to analyze the various fungi present in endoscopic specimens of acid peptic disorder patients. Eighty samples were collected from the patients who are suffering from signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer disorders. The samples were collected from both male and female patients with age varying from 21 years to 50 years. Samples were processed for fungal etiology. The direct smear Grams stain results showed a positivity of 8.75 % for fungus. All the 7 fungi isolated belong to the Candida species. The present study concluded that along with other bacterial isolates, Candida species are also present in the endoscopic specimens.