Diagnosis and Treatment of Throat Thrush

Diagnostic Approach

• A swab taken from the lesion is the essential specimen for detecting oropharyngeal candidiasis and esophagitis 1, 2
• Swabs must be inoculated on selective media to prevent overgrowth by colonizing bacteria 1, 2
• A biopsy is not mandatory for diagnosis but may help discriminate between infection and colonization in unclear cases 1, 2
• When biopsy is obtained, it should be processed with appropriate histopathology and culture 1
• Species identification and susceptibility testing are recommended in recurrent or complicated cases and in patients who have been previously exposed to azole antifungals 1, 2
• PCR-based methods have been evaluated but are not recommended as they have not been validated in clinical settings 1, 2