Geotrichum

Geotrichum is a genus of fungi found worldwide in soil, water, air, and sewage, as well as in plants, cereals, and dairy products; it is also commonly found in normal human flora and is isolated from sputum and feces.

The genus Geotrichum includes several species: The most common species is Geotrichum candidum. Geotrichum clavatum and Geotrichum fici are among other Geotrichum species. Geotrichum fici has an intense smell resembling that of pineapple.

Environmental and Clinical Significance
As well as being a colonizer of the intestinal tract, Geotrichum may cause opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised host; these infections are referred to as geotrichosis. The infections are usually acquired via ingestion or inhalation.

Apart from its clinical significance, there are very recent claims on environmental damages that Geotrichum might have caused; geotrichum is destroying the aluminium and data-storing polycarbonate resin that are found in the structure of compact discs. This in turn led to discoloration of discs; the result is the discs becoming partly transparent.