There are many types of yeast infection, which differ in the fungal species involved, the location of the infection, its acute or chronic nature, the mode of infection, etc.

Among the fungi frequently involved in human mycosis, we mainly find¹ :

— the “yeasts” (microscopic round fungi), whose Candida, the Cryptococcus, the Pityrosporum and Pneumocystis, responsible respectively for candidiasis, cryptococcosis, pityrosporosis and pneumocystosis;

— so-called “filamentous” fungi, including dermatophytes (involved in dermatophytosis), Aspergillus (causing respiratory aspergillosis), etc.

– dimorphic fungi (histoplasmosis).

Infections caused by Candida are the main cause of fungal infections nosocomial (about 80%), ranging from mild infections of the skin or mucous membranes to serious infections affecting an organ.

If you Candida albicans is the species most often involved, it should be noted that there are more than 150 species of Candida! Next come the fungi of the Aspergillus type, responsible for most infections after Candida (10 to 20% of fungal infections contracted in hospital)².

Finally, in tropical countries, many other species can be pathogenic, such as those responsible for tinea capitis of the scalp.

To find your way around, doctors also classify mycoses³, among others:

• depending on their location: mycoses can be superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous or deep (generalized);
• according to their mode of transmission: the responsible agent can be endogenous (naturally present in the body) or exogenous (transmitted by respiratory route, cutaneous or transcutaneous);
• depending on their severity: most yeast infections are not serious (vaginal yeast infection, nail fungus, etc.) but fungal infections that occur in weakened people, especially in hospital, can be fatal.