CHARACTERISATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF CANDIDA SPECIES ISOLATED IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH INDIA.

Abstract

Candida is usually considered a commensal with the potential to cause opportunistic infections ranging from supercial mucosal infections to lifethreatening invasive infections. This study was aimed to determine antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida species isolated from various clinical specimens from a tertiary care hospital. Isolation and identic Material and Methods: ation of Candida species were done by morphological examination, pseudohyphae, and chlamydospore production on cornmeal agar, germ tube test, and HiCrome Candida differential agar. The antifungal susceptibility of Candida strains was performed by the disk diffusion method as per the CLSI M44-A2 protocol. A Result: total of 96 Candida species were isolated from various clinical specimens. The isolation rate was more in the older age group and female patients(52%). Most frequently isolated from urine 41.67% followed by sputum 19.79%, Blood 16.67%, and least from vaginal swab 2.08%. Four species of Candida were isolated among them Candida albicans was most common 59.37% followed by Candida prapsilosis and Candida krusei 15.62%, and Candida tropicalis 9.37%. In antifungal susceptibility testing, Itraconazole was the most sensitive drug and Fluconazole was the least sensitive one with only 58.33% susceptibility among individual species. Concussion: Urinary tract infection was common due to Candida albicans, and Itraconazole was the most susceptible drug.