Identification Of Candida Species Research Articles

Patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis exhibit a decrease in both the fungicidal activity of neutrophils and the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is an important and underestimated fungal infection. We aimed to determine the fungicidal and proliferative capacities of neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), respectively and the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a cohort of Colombian patients diagnosed with RVVC. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 66 women were included (40 diagnosed with RVVC and 26 healthy women [HW]). Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Vaginal fluid samples were obtained for isolation, identification and antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species using selective culture media and the Vitek 2.0® system. Blood samples were also obtained to evaluate cell subpopulations; furthermore, neutrophils and PBMCs were isolated to determine their fungicidal and proliferative capacities, respectively. The median age was 29 (IQR: 34-23) for RVVC and 24 (IQR: 30-23) for HW. Only two species of the genus Candida were identified: Candida albicans (92.5%) and Candida lusitaniae (7.5%). Resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine and amphotericin B was observed on six C. albicans isolates and one C. lusitaniae isolate. Only the family history of vulvovaginal candidiasis was associated with RVVC occurrence. The RVVC group exhibited a significantly higher number of neutrophils but with lower fungicidal activity in comparison to HW; likewise, PBMCs from RVVC patients presented a lower proliferation index when stimulated with C. albicans. Contrary to what has been reported worldwide, in Colombian patients with RVVC, C. albicans was the main isolated species without increased antifungal resistance. The diminished fungicidal and proliferative capacities of neutrophils and PBMCs, respectively, could suggest a possible alteration in the innate and adaptive immune responses.

Rapid identification,fluconazole and micafungin susceptibility testing of Candida species from blood culture by a short incubation method

This study aimed to develop and validate a rapid method for identification by MALDI-TOF system and determination of the susceptibility to Fluconazole and Micafungin by broth microdilution among Candidaspecies causing bloodstream infections. Subcultures from blood culture bottles were incubated for 5 hours (+/- 1h) and used to perform the tests, so that the turnaround time of rapid identification and susceptibility profile was about 5 and 24 hours, respectively. The rapid identification showed agreement of 92.05 %. Regarding the rapid broth microdilution for Fluconazole and Micafungin, the agreement was 97.06 % (p<0.001) and 100 % (p<0.001), and the Kappa coefficient was 0.91 (p<0.001) and 1.0 (p<0.001), respectively. To conclude, both rapid methods showed to be reproducible, inexpensive, easy to perform and time-saving. Thus, these methodologies could be useful to guide and adjust empirical antifungal therapy.

Prevalence of Candida Species Among Unmarried Women Attending Lafia Primary Health Care Centers

One of the several normal-flora of an individual’s vaginal, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and mucosal membrane are Candida species. Candida have been associated with diverse diseases including life threatening invasive, superficial and hematogenic infections. This study determined the prevalence of Candida species amongst unmarried women attending Lafia Primary Health Care Centers. Forty high vagina swabs were collected from unmarried women. Isolation and identification of Candida species were performed according to standard procedures using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Gram staining and Germ tube test. 13 (32.5%) were positive for five different Candida species. C. albicans was the most prevalent (38.46%; 5/13) species while non-albicans Candida [C. glabrata (23.07%; 3/13), C. tropicalis (6.89%; 2/13), C. parapsilosis (3.44%; 1/13) and C. krusei (6.89%; 2/13)] accounted for 61.54% (8/13) of the total positive cases. Women aged 15-18 years and 23-26 years had the lowest and highest prevalence rates of 14.28% (1/7) and 42.10% (8/19) respectively. Candidiasis is a threat to global health and should be taken with all seriousness. The high candidiasis prevalence observed herein portrays a concern and calls for a continuous study of unmarried women attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Lafia. Furthermore, there should be an improvement in creating awareness of the opportunistic pathogenic characteristic of Candida species as normal flora and the effect they cause when there are hormonal imbalances caused by drug abuse, pregnancy, and poor dieting. The practice of good hygiene should be observed to prevent the spread of the infection.

Speciation of Candida species isolated from cutaneous skin lesions using CHROMagar and conventional methods

Background: Candida species are members of the normal flora of the skin, mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal tract. They are endogenous opportunists which cause secondary infection in individuals with some underlying immunocompromised conditions. Candidiasis is a common fungal disease found in humans affecting mucosa, skin, nails, and internal organs of the body. Candida albicans is generally considered the major pathogen among the Candida species. An increase in the prevalence of non-albicans species has been noted during the last decades. Aims and Objectives:The study was done to evaluate the performance of the conventional identification method and commercially available chromogenic Candida speciation media (CHROMagar) for the identification of medically important yeast and yeast-like organisms in a routine clinical microbiology laboratory. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Hamidia, and Associated Hospitals, Bhopal (M.P.), from January 2020 to October 2021. A total of 180 samples were collected from patients suspected of superficial mycoses which were then subjected to direct KOH examination and culture on plain Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA), on SDA with antibiotics slants (cycloheximide and chloramphenicol). The growths were examined macroscopically as well as microscopically. Germ tube tests and inoculations on CHROMagar Candida medium were performed on all growths identified as yeasts and confirmed by morphology on CMA. Results: In our study, the majority of patients, belonged to the age group of 21–30 years (25%) with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Candida tropicalis (44.68%) was the most common Candida species, followed by C. albicans (38.30%), Candida krusei (12.77%), and Candida glabrata (4.25%). Conclusion: Along with C. albicans, non-albicans Candida spp such as C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. glabrata are increasingly being isolated from clinical specimens. Identification of Candida species by colony color on Hicrome correlated with the morphology on CMA. Thus, the incorporation of CMA in routine yeast identification is more judicious than Hicrome as it increases the accuracy in the identification of Candida species within the same time as that of Hicrome.

Molecular Detection and Identification of Candida Species Isolates from Oral by RFLP-PCR

In this study, 10 local isolates from a total of 50 samples of Candida sp. were collected from oral swabs of patients with oral infections in Mosul hospitals. The isolates were diagnosed based on culturing, microscopic and biochemical characteristics, and then molecular methods. The first diagnosis by culturing, microscopic and biochemical tests found the isolates were identified as Candida sp. The ITS region was amplified using universal primers (ITS4-ITS5), The PCR product was size (510-721) bp. Performing RFLP-PCR using MspI, HhaI,and EcoRI, restriction enzyme to detect and identify Candida species, the results showed the presence of the cutting sequence of MspI and HhaI enzymes in the genomic DNA content of local isolate and the absence of the sequences for the EcoRI restriction enzyme. Two Candida species were identified (C. krusei and C. the basis of size and fragment sequences then compared with sequences of standard strains from the gene bank in previous studies. Therefore, it can be observed that there is a genetic variation between the local isolates and that there are different genotypes of rDNA 5.8S have been diagnosed in 10 isolates after the cutting process with three restriction enzymes. We conclude from this study that the RFLP-PCR technique was the best in diagnosing and identifying Candida species compared with traditional methods. and we are d the genetic variation between local isolates.

Performance of Chromogenic Candida Lab-Agar® Medium in Presumptive Identification of Candida Species from Clinical Samples at Sourô Sanou University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Introduction: The incidence of Candida infections is increasing worldwide. In clinical laboratories of resource-constrained countries, Candida speciation is commonly limited to germ tube tests and culture onto a chromogenic medium. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of Chromogenic Candida Lab-Agar® (CCL) in identifying Candida species from clinical samples. Methods: We evaluated the diagnostic performance of CCL with 83 yeast isolates collected from 73 clinical samples at the laboratory department of Sourô Sanou University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Clinical specimens included vaginal swabs, urine, and blood cultures. After preliminary isolation on Sabouraud chloramphenicol agar, yeast isolates were inoculated onto the CCL medium and incubated at 35 °C for 48 h. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing were used as reference methods. Results: Among yeast species, Candida albicans was the most prevalent (43.4%), followed by C. krusei (13.3%), C. glabrata (12.0%), C. kefyr (8.4%), and C. tropicalis (7.2%). The overall agreement rate of CCL was 56.6% and varied across Candida species; it was 94.4% for C. albicans, 50% for C. glabrata, 18.2% for C. krusei, and 33.3% for C. tropicalis. Conclusions: This study showed that CCL had moderate accuracy in identifying Candida at the species level from clinical specimens in a routine laboratory in Burkina Faso. The misidentification of non-albicans species may expose patients to inadequate antifungal treatment. Therefore, identifying yeast in a routine based on CCL is not enough and should be associated with more accurate methods.

Phenotypic characterization and antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida isolates from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis at a community health center linked to a teaching institution in the Sub-Himalayan region of North India.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is considered a common gynecological problem among females of reproductive age group. 70-75% of women report having had candidal vulvovaginitis at some point in their lifetimes and 40-50% suffer recurrent candidal vulvovaginitis. This study aims to identify the Candida species involved in VVC and to determine their antifungal susceptibility pattern. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on 257 females (18-55 yr) with complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge. For detection of Candida, the swab samples were subjected to Gram stain, 10% KOH mount, and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Candida species identification was done by subculturing Candida isolates onto CHROMagar, corn meal agar (Himedia), and further confirmation was done by MALDI-TOF MS. Antifungal testing was done using the disk diffusion method. A total of 257 females with complaints of abnormal discharge were enrolled in this study. Out of 257, C. albicans 37 (58.7%) and 26 (41.3%) isolates were identified as non-albicans Candida. Out of 63 positive cases, a maximum number of study subject belongs to the age group 26-35 years (50.8%). Along with vaginal discharge, itching (65.37%) is the most common complaint. VVC was found to be most predominant in patients with prolonged antibiotic therapy (38.1%), and in pregnant females (15.9%). Understanding the emerging fungal pathogens and their drug susceptibility patterns is essential for the effective management of infections. Drug resistance can lead to treatment failure and highlights the need for alternative treatment options or strategies.

620. Development and Validation of a Novel qPCR Assay for Differentiation of Common Candida Pathogens including C. auris

Abstract Background Candida is a common asymptomatic fungal colonizer of humans. Of the 200+ total species in the genus Candida, only a few are known to cause infection. The most common are C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. auris. In the USA, candidemia is the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients. Although antifungal medication can treat candidemia, mortality rates remain between 30 and 60%. Eurofins Viracor has developed a qPCR assay that will qualitatively detect and differentiate any of the 6 previously listed Candida species in whole blood. Speciation is critical for treatment due to variable drug susceptibility among different species, particularly C. auris due to its multi-drug resistance. Methods Multiple primer/probe mixes were designed around and within the ITS1, 5.8s, ITS2, and 28s ribosomal subunit regions in each of the six Candida target species. The 5.8s and 28s regions are heavily conserved, while the ITS regions are highly divergent and used to differentiate species. After optimization, the six primer/probe mixes were partially multiplexed resulting in four mixes covering all species. DNA was extracted from human blood spiked with viable Candida using the MagMAX™ DNA Multi-Sample Ultra 2.0 Kit, and eluates were amplified using the Applied Biosystems™ 7500 Fast platform. Results Each assay met all validation acceptance criteria and demonstrated excellent accuracy, precision, linearity and dynamic range, and sensitivity. 32 non-Candida fungal and bacterial pathogens that commonly cause bloodstream infections were used to assess specificity. All specificity samples were negative for all Candida targets. To assess accuracy, 75 of 75 Candida samples representing all six species across a range of concentrations were tested and correctly identified. 24 of 25 known-negative samples were negative, with one positive C. glabrata CT result observed just below the cutoff. Conclusion Traditional blood culture methods for Candida species identification can be too time consuming for a quickly progressing infection. The Candida qPCR assay described here not only detects an infection faster but provides accurate speciation allowing for rapid and targeted antifungal treatment options for the patient. Disclosures Clayton Thomas, BS in Biology, Eurofins Viracor: Employee James Grantham, n/a, Eurofins Viracor: Employee Emily Lute, n/a, Eurofins Viracor: Employee Jerod Davidson, n/a, Eurofins Viracor: Employee Scott Cowden, MS, MB ASCP(CM), Eurofins Viracor: Employee Jamie Nutt, n/a, Eurofins Viracor: Employee

Phenotypic identification of Candida species and relative expression of candida drug resistance (CDR1) gene in fluconazole resistant and sensitive Candida albicans

ABSTRACT:&#x0D; Background and objective:&#x0D; Candida albicans belongs to the genus Candida. It is a commensal yeast in healthy individuals and can cause wide variety of infections in immune-compromised patients. The aim of the present study was to observe the frequency of Candida species, resistant profile of C. albicans against fluconazole and over-expression of CDR1 gene in both fluconazole resistant and sensitive C. albicans.&#x0D; Methodology:&#x0D; A total number of 206 Candida species were collected on Sabouraud Dextrose agar from Jinnah hospital Lahore. The isolates were re-confirmed by using various microbiological techniques like wet preparation, Gram stain and Germ tube test. Identification upto the species level was done by APIC 20AUX. Antifungal susceptibility profile of C. albicans against fluconazole was determined by broth microdilutiom method. Real Time PCR was performed on both the sensitive and resistant C. albicans to observe the role of CDR1 gene against fluconazole resistance. Results:&#x0D; &#x0D; tropicals was the most common species with the frequency of 66 (32.0%) followed by C. albicans 41(19.9), C. glabrata 24 (11.7%), C. lusitaniae 14 (6.8%) and other less common species. The majority of infected patients were females (59.2%) than males (41%). Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that 80% C. albicans were sensitive to fluconazole. Results of gene expression showed that CDR1 gene play a major role towards fluconazole resistance in C.albicans.Conclusion: Fluconazole was found to be effective in treating infections caused by C. albicans. &#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Candida albicans, Candida Drug Resistant Gene 1, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Candida Tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Candida lusitaniae

Isolation and Identification of Candida Species from Confirmed Cases of Candiduria in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Isolation and Identification of Candida Species from Confirmed Cases of Candiduria in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Deteksi Kandiduria Pada Wanita Penderita Diabetes Melitus Di Puskesmas I Denpasar Barat

Diabetes mellitus is a disease associated with metabolic disorders in the body with the characteristics of an increase in the body's blood sugar levels. In people with diabetes mellitus, candiduria infection can occur due to excessive growth of Candida fungi in the urinary tract. Patients are declared candiduria if Candida is found in the urine &gt;103 CFU/mL. The study ao aimed to determine whether candiduria occurred in women with diabetes mellitus who were examined at the West Denpasar Health Center I. The sampling technique used purposive sampling. The sample used was 53 urine using the patient's medical record data for December 2022. Sample analysis was carried out at the Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory STIKES Wira Medika Bali. Candiduria was detected by examining the number of colonies per ml of urine on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Identification of causative species was carried out by Gram microscopy and germ tube test. Based on the examination results, 2 samples (3.8%) were positive for candiduria and 51 samples (96.3%) were negative. Identification of Candida species known to cause candiduria in both samples was caused by C. albicans. With the characteristics of an oval, gram-positive blastospore, and a germ tube test, the formation of blastospores is like germinating cells. Based on the results of the study, it is expected that respondents maintain body immunity, blood sugar levels, and cleanliness of the genital area so as to reduce the risk of candiduria.

Isolation, identification, and antifungal resistance of Candida species from various samples

This study in Aden, Yemen, collected 67 samples from patients attending hospitals and laboratories. Samples were taken from different body areas, covering various age groups and genders. Fungal infections, particularly Candida species, are a significant cause of death worldwide. The emergence of azole-resistant Candida has raised concerns and highlighted the need for better antifungal agents.In the study, 68.66% of the collected samples contained pathogenic Candida fungi. Some samples also showed bacterial growth or both bacteria and fungi. Suspected Candida growth on corn meal agar exhibited chlamydospore formation and germ tubes on human serum. Carbohydrate fermentation tests were positive for Glucose, Maltose, Galactose, and Xylose, while Sucrose and Lactose were negative. All Candida isolates (100%) were accurately identified to the species level using CHROM agar Candida. Candida's pathogenicity was linked to various virulence factors, including hydrolytic enzyme secretion. Nystatin was the most effective antifungal agent (100% sensitivity), while Fluconazole (73.92%) and Amphotericin B (52.17%) showed varying levels of sensitivity. However, Voriconazole, ketoconazole, and Miconazole displayed high resistance rates (89.13%, 84.78%, and 80.44%, respectively) against the isolated Candida.This study concluded that Candida spp., particularly Candida albicans, were frequently found in the samples from patients, with vaginal swaps being a common site of infection. The identification of Candida isolates to the species level using CHROM agar Candida was accurate. Nystatin, Fluconazole, and Amphotericin B were the most effective antifungal agents against Candida spp.

Molecular Identification of Candida Species Isolated from Onychomycosis with In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles

Background: Onychomycosis is one of the most common fungal infections. The most common etiological agents of onychomycosis in Iran are Candida species, especially fingernails. It is more common in women than men, particularly workers in occupations requiring them to submerge their hands or feet in water for prolonged periods. Objectives: The current study's main aim was to determine the abundance of candidal onychomycosis, identify the Candida species using molecular methods, and evaluate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility profiles. Methods: One hundred forty samples were obtained from patients suspected of onychomycosis, and 51 (36.4%) Candida strains were identified by PCR-RFLP. The in vitro susceptibility of four triazole (FLC, ITC, VRC, and POS) antifungal drug testing of 51 Candida species was performed using broth microdilution. Results: Direct microscopic examination by KOH 20% of 140 nail samples showed that 51 (36.4%) samples were positive in terms of fungal elements, with Candida parapsilosis complex being the most frequently isolated of patients, followed by C. albicans complex, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. famata, C. kefyr, and Candida species. All Candida species showed they were susceptible to four triazoles, except that five C. krusei were resistant to fluconazole. Only one C. glabrata isolates and one C. parapsilosis isolate were resistant to fluconazole. Conclusions: The growing trend towards the frequency of fingernail onychomycosis in housewives has been noticeable in the last decades in Iran. Therefore, accurate identification of Candida species and perform in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing can aid physicians in choosing an effective potential drug for treating onychomycosis patients.

Innovative Biosensing Approaches for Swift Identification of Candida Species, Intrusive Pathogenic Organisms.

Candida is the largest genus of medically significant fungi. Although most of its members are commensals, residing harmlessly in human bodies, some are opportunistic and dangerously invasive. These have the ability to cause severe nosocomial candidiasis and candidemia that affect the viscera and bloodstream. A prompt diagnosis will lead to a successful treatment modality. The smart solution of biosensing technologies for rapid and precise detection of Candida species has made remarkable progress. The development of point-of-care (POC) biosensor devices involves sensor precision down to pico-/femtogram level, cost-effectiveness, portability, rapidity, and user-friendliness. However, futuristic diagnostics will depend on exploiting technologies such as multiplexing for high-throughput screening, CRISPR, artificial intelligence (AI), neural networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing of medical databases. This review gives an insight into different biosensor technologies designed for the detection of medically significant Candida species, especially Candida albicans and C. auris, and their applications in the medical setting.

Identification of Candida Isolates from Cancer Patients Using Multiplex PCR

Aim of this study was to identify the Candida isolates from Cancer Hospital Maharagama, Sri Lanka by using Multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method. In this study, Multiplex PCR was used to identify Candida isolates from cancer patients at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka. In multiplex PCR, 18 specific primers (nine primer pairs) were separated into three groups for multiplex PCR (PS I, PS II and PS III). Different sized PCR products corresponding to each Candida species were produced by PCR using the primer mixes. Among 52 Candida isolates, 49 were identified using the multiplex PCR procedure. Candida tropicalis was found to be the most prevalent species (38%), followed by Candida parapsilosis (31%), Candida albicans (13%), Candida glabrata (8%) and Candida krusei (4%). The study concludes that multiplex PCR is a better approach for the identification of Candida species and recommends the use of it for clinical and diagnostic purposes and for research purposes.

Value of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) in Discriminating Candida Species

Abstract Background Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-MS) allows rapid and accurate identification of Candida species. Phenotypic identification of Candida species remains labor- and time consuming, and the results may sometimes be inconclusive. Rapid and reliable species identification of Candida is essential for antifungal treatment due to speciesspecific susceptibility patterns. Objectives We evaluated the performance of MALDI TOF-MS (VITEK MS) compared with conventional VITEK 2 YST (V2C) for identification of clinically important Candida strains. Subject and Methods A total of 50 Candida isolates collected from different clinical samples submitted to the Main Microbiology Laboratory Ain Shams University Hospitals, were included in this study. Candida species were identified by conventional phenotypic tests as Gram stain, culture morphology and with automated V2C panels as well as with VITEK MS. Results There was a total agreement of (100%) between VITEK MS and V2C at the level of the genus and (96%) at the level of the species. The most common isolates identified were C.tropicalis followed by C. albicans in urinary samles. Conclusion VITEK MS is a rapid and reliable method in comparison to V2C for identification of Candida strains in Microbiology Clinical Laboratory.

Development of Short-term Membrane-based Cultivation Combined with Dual-target Melting Analysis for Rapid Differentiation of Common Candida Species

Background: Candida is the main causative agent of severe mucosal and invasive candidiasis. Different species of Candida have shown varying levels of resistance to antifungal treatments. It is estimated that each 12-hour delay in antifungal treatment is associated with a significant increase in patient mortality and treatment costs. The culture method is regarded as the gold standard for identifying Candida species, but its time-consuming process is a clear disadvantage. Objectives: This study established a method using membrane technology combined with dual-target melting analysis for rapid cultivation and identification of common Candida species. This method is expected to preserve the advantages of the conventional culture method and improve upon its weaknesses while also evaluating the practical application of the method. Methods: A microfiltration membrane-based culture followed by a color indicator method was established to rapidly cultivate Candida cultures. The 5.8S ribosomal DNA region and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were used as target gene regions, for which two sets of primers were employed. Melting analysis following dual-target real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to distinguish among Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. krusei. To evaluate its practical application, the method was tested with 72 clinical isolates, and the results were compared with those obtained using the chromogenic culture method and DNA sequencing. Results: Distinctive melting temperatures in the two gene targets were detected among the four common Candida species. The entire process, from cultivation to identification, was completed within 12 hours, about 50% less time than the gold-standard method. The minimum detection limit of Candida species was 10 femtograms. The results of the identification of the clinical isolates were consistent with those of DNA sequencing. Conclusions: The short-term membrane-based cultivation combined with dual-target melting analysis can be used to rapidly, easily, and accurately identify common Candida species, thus reducing the time needed to initiate targeted treatment for patients with severe candidiasis.

Assessment of the accuracy of identification of clinical Candida species with reduced fluconazole susceptibility by rapid methods and their relative expression of major efflux pump genes

Assessment of the accuracy of identification of clinical Candida species with reduced fluconazole susceptibility by rapid methods and their relative expression of major efflux pump genes

COVID-19 and candiduria: an investigation of the risk factors and immunological aspects.

Secondary fungal infections are frequently observed in COVID-19 patients. However, the occurrence of candiduria in these patients and its risk factors are underexplored. We evaluated the risk factors of candiduria in COVID-19 patients, including inflammatory mediators that could be used as prognostic markers. Clinical information, laboratory test results, and outcomes were collected from severely ill COVID-19 patients with and without candiduria. Candida species identification, antifungal susceptibility, and plasma inflammatory mediators' measurements were performed. Regression logistic and Cox regression model were used to evaluate the risk factors. A higher risk of longer hospitalization and mortality were observed in patients with candiduria compared to those with COVID-19 only. Candiduria was caused by Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis. Isolates with intermediate susceptibility to voriconazole and resistant to caspofungin were identified. Classic factors such as the use of corticosteroids and antibacterials, the worsening of renal function, and hematological parameters (hemoglobin and platelets) were found to predispose to candiduria. The mediators IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, CXCL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ, basic FGF, and MIP-1β were significantly increased in patients with COVID-19 and candiduria. Furthermore, IFN-γ, IL-1ra, and CXCL-8 were associated with the occurrence of candiduria in COVID-19 patients, whereas basic FGF, IL-1β, and CXCL-8 were associated with the risk of death in these patients. Classical and immunological factors were associated with worse prognosis among patients with COVID-19 and candiduria. Some mediators, especially CXCL-8, can be a reliable biomarker of fungal coinfection and may guide the diagnostic and the treatment of these patients.

Evaluation of the Various Oral Candida Species among Patients on Hemodialysis: A Clinical Study.

Oral candidiasis develops as a result of an opportunistic infection. In patients on hemodialysis who may be immune-compromised, candida can change from a commensal to a pathogen. Identification and classification of Candida species are crucial for the treatment of these patients. To distinguish between distinct species of candida found in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure's oral cavity. A total of 100 people were investigated, including 50 patients with "Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)" on hemodialysis and 50 healthy controls. Using "Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA)" and "CHROM Agar Culture Media", salivary samples were incubated for 24, 48, or 72 hours at 37°C to develop candida species. Colony forming units/milliliter, a unit of measurement for colonies, were counted and calculated (CFU). On SDA and CHROM agar medium, positive candidal growth was seen in the CRF with HD and Control Groups. There was a significant variance in the growth and the subspecies distribution of the colonies among the groups. The most common species was c.albicans followed by c. cruzi and tropical. Other subspecies were negligible. The number of colonies was also greater than 400 CFU in the majority of the dialysis subjects, while it was only 200 CFU for the majority of the controls. Patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis showed significantly higher levels of candida isolation and differentiation than healthy individuals (P 0.05).