[Differential diagnoses for detection of yeasts and yeast-like organisms]

The differential diagnosis of yeasts or yeast-like organisms includes a series of imported and domestic fungal pathogens. The spectrum of fungal pathogens involves dimorphic fungi which may cause deep mycoses in healthy people as well as opportunistic fungi, which require predisposing factors for infection, e.g. immunosuppression or a trauma. The histology is sometimes unambiguous; however, frequently there is a great similarity between diverse fungal infections in tissues and the diagnostically decisive criteria are only obvious in a few pathogens. In addition to a classical culture technique in doubtful cases molecular biological or serological methods are necessary to confirm any suspected pathogen diagnosis.