The study comprises an analysis of the growth rate of C. albicans and C. stellatoidea strains isolated from the respiratory system and incubated on Nickerson's and Sabouraud's agar in the dark and by light. The property to form hyphae and pseudohyphae by both species was used to evaluate the growth rate. The increase in their growth allowed to isolate the stages characteristic for growth and development of most fungi. Disturbances appeared with the fungi exposed to light which is the factor definitely setting back the growth. Faster growth and development was observed with C. stellatoidea.
The results of observations on the occurrence of S. cerevisiaein the respiratory and digestive systems and on the skin in hospitalised individuals, mostly belonging to so-called risk groups of fungal infections, conducted over a period of five years (1999-2004), are described and discussed. The participation of S. cerevisiaein the mycocoenoses studied was 11.04% of all the recorded fungi. A significant increase in its prevalence, especially on the skin, was noticed. The fungus was mostly isolated with fungi of the genera Candidaand Trichosporon, as well as separately in the last two years of the study.