Species distribution and fluconazole susceptibility of yeasts of genus Candida isolated from hospitalized and ambulatory patients

Abstract

Most surveillance studies have included invasive candidiasis from hospitalized patients. However, no national study has evaluated the species distribution and susceptibility to fluconazole of Candida species isolated from hospitalized and ambulatory patients. A total of 166 strains were collected consecutively during a 6 month period. Strains were isolated from vaginal fluid (73.5%), urine (7.8%), lower respiratory tract samples (7.8%), blood cultures (4.2%), sterile fluids (2.4%) and wounds (1.8%). Most of the isolates were obtained from ambulatory patients (71.1%). The species found were Candida albicans (78.9%), C. glabrata (8.4%), C. tropicalis (6.0%), C. famata (1.8%), C. krusei (1.8%), C. parapsilosis (1.8%) and C. sake (1.2%). Fluconazole susceptibility was: 92.3%o for C. albicans, 85.7 % for C. glabrata (most strains being dose-dependent susceptible), 100%) for C. parapsilosis and 80%) for C. tropicalis. Only susceptible strains were isolated from hospitalized children, whereas more resistant strains were isolated from ambulatory adults, mainly from vaginal fluid. In order to identify probable reservoirs of less susceptible strains such as C. glabrata, it would be necessary to include ambulatory isolates in future surveillance studies.