Antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from suspected cases of tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: Candida species are emerging as a potentially pathogenic fungus in patients with broncho-pulmonary diseases. The synergistic growth promoting association of Candida and Mycobacterium tuberculosis has raised increased concern for studying the various Candida spp. and its significance in tuberculosis patients during current years. Aim: Aim of our study was isolation and identification of Candida spp from tuberculosis patients; as well as testing sensitivity of these clinical isolates to commonly prescribed antifungal drugs. Method: Totally 178 sputum specimens were screened by RNTCP Unit were included in the study. In vitro susceptibility testing of C. albicans isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients to five antifungal drugs was carried by direct susceptibility method using CHROM agar. Results: We could able to obtain 20.2% of Candida strains from 178 RNTCP clinic attendees and Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida dubliniensis and Candida krusei was identified. Overall based on our study report we could able to report 33.3%,19.4% and 8.3% antifungal resistance by Candida strains towards the antifungal drugs Itraconazole, Nystatin, and Amphotericin B, respectively. Conclusion: In this study we found a shifting pattern of epidemiology of Candida species from commensal to emerging pathogen. Therefore, screening of tuberculosis patients for Candida infection should be routinely practiced along with anti-fungal sensitivity testing for non-albicans Candida isolates. Keywords: Antifungal susceptibility, azoles, Candida, disk diffusion, tuberculosis, Non-albicans Candida(NAC)