Speciation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Candida isolated from Immunocompromised Patients of a Tertiary Care Centre in Gujarat, India

Abstract

Candida species are one of the most common causes of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. An upsurge in incidence of less common species of Candida have been documented since last few years as the major cause of candidemia all over the world and they are also less susceptible to azoles, particularly fluconazole, than C. albicans. The purpose of study was speciation and antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida isolates, obtained from immunocompromised patients. The study included 150 consecutive immunocompromised patients and was initiated after the ethical approval from Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Institutional Ethical Committee (SVIEC). Informed consent was obtained from all and a Detailed Questionnaire regarding the Patient’s history and clinical findings were noted. All the specimens were subjected to a battery of microbiological examination for isolation, identification, and antifungal susceptibility testing. In our study, the incidence of candidiasis in immunocompromised patients was43.1%.C.tropicalis(n=23,37.09%) was the most common species isolated followed by C. albicans (n=20, 32.25%), C. glabrata (n=15,24.19%) and C. parapsilosis (n=4, 6.45%). The isolates showed 100% sensitivity to Amphotericin B and Nystatin, whereas 37.09% sensitivity to Ketoconazole, 20.9% sensitivity to clotrimazole, 19.35% sensitivity to itraconazole and 14.5% sensitivity to Fluconazole. The study undoubtedly indicates a substantial move in the species from C. albicans to Non-albicans Candida and with added resistance to common antifungal drugs.