Final answer:
The organism causing both vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush is Candida albicans, a fungus that is part of the normal human microbiota but can become pathogenic under certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organism responsible for vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush infections is Candida albicans, a unicellular fungus, or yeast. This pathogen is a normal part of the microbiota of the skin, mouth, intestine, and vagina, and it typically only turns pathogenic when a disturbance in the environment occurs. Such disturbances can be triggered by antibacterial medication use, which might kill off bacteria that normally keep Candida's population in control, or by changes in the body's immune response due to illnesses like diabetes or HIV/AIDS, which can result in an overgrowth of Candida.
Candida infections include vaginal candidiasis, often referred to as a "yeast infection," and oral thrush. Symptoms of vaginal yeast infections might include itching, discharge, and odor, while oral thrush can show up as growth on the mouth, throat, and tongue. These infections can be treated with topical or oral fungicides, though preventing them can be more challenging due to the multifaceted nature of their potential causes.