Effects of chemically synthesized Azole compounds on Clinical isolates of Vaginal Candidiasis, in comparison with commercially available anti-fungal drugs

Abstract

Candida species is observed as the most common cause of 'Opportunistic Mycoses' worldwide. Candida species is a member of normal flora of skin, mouth, vagina, and stool. Infections caused by Candida species are in general referred to as Candidiasis. Vaginal Candidiasis is a fungal or yeast infection of the vulva and/or vagina, which causes a smelly, thick, white-yellow discharge, which might be accompanied by itching, burning and swelling. It can also can make walking, urinating or sex very painful. The Genus Candida includes around 154 species. While Candida albicans is the most abundant and significant species; importantly, there has been a recent increase in infections due to non-albicans Candida species along with increasing drug resistance. The present study includes isolation of Candida species from the patients suffering from vaginal candidiasis followed by identification and differentiation between different Candida species by their morphological studies, microbiological analysis and biochemical activities, which are: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata & C. krusei. The present study also includes a comparative study of anti-microbial activities of commercially available anti-fungal drugs as well as 22 novel chemically synthesized 1% DMSO soluble compounds (belonging to Azoles) by “Disc Diffusion Method” according to NCCLS Guidelines. Out of which 5 compounds were found to be remarkably effective, especially AntiC-15 was found to be the most potent and excellent among all; which exhibits its inhibitory effects against some drug resistant isolates also. It is sent for further study in order to use it at commercial level. INTRODUCTION Candida species is yeast and the most common cause of opportunistic mycoses worldwide. It is also a frequent colonizer of human skin and mucous membranes. Candida species is a member of normal flora of skin, mouth, vagina, and stool. Infections caused by Candida species are in general referred to as Candidiasis. The clinical spectrum of Candidiasis is extremely diverse. Almost any organ or system in the body can be affected. Candidiasis may be superficial and local or deep-seated and disseminated. Candidiasis is mostly an endogenous infection, arising from overgrowth of the fungus inhabiting in the normal flora. However, it may occasionally be acquired from exogenous sources such as catheters or prosthetic devices or by personto-person transmission such as Oral Candidiasis in neonates of mothers with Vaginal Candidiasis or Endophthalmitis following corneal transplantation from an infected donor. Vaginal Candidiasis is a fungal or yeast infection of the vulva and/or vagina. It causes a smelly, thick, white-yellow discharge that might be accompanied by itching, burning and swelling. It can also can make walking, urinating or sex very painful. The Genus Candida includes around 154 species. Among these, very few are most frequently isolated in human infections. While Candida albicans is the most pathogenic and most commonly encountered species among all due to its ability to adhere to host tissues, produce aspartyl Effects of chemically synthesized Azole compounds on Clinical isolates of Vaginal Candidiasis, in comparison with commercially available anti-fungal drugs 2 of 6 proteases & phospholipase enzymes and transformation from yeast to hyphal phase, which are the major determinants of its pathogenicity. Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei and Candida lusitaniae are also isolated as causative agents of Candidiasis. Importantly, there has been a recent increase in infections due to non-albicans Candida species along with increasing drug resistance. For the same, the present study also includes a comparative study of anti-microbial activities of commercially available anti-fungal drugs as well as 22 newer chemically synthesized 1% DMSO soluble compounds (belonging to Azoles). MATERIAL & METHODS STUDY GROUP The study group includes different patients suffering from Vaginal Candidiasis with varying degree of severity. SPECIMEN COLLECTION: Vaginal Swab