CandidaSpecies Prevalence Profile in HIV Seropositive Patients from a Major Tertiary Care Hospital in New Delhi, India

Abstract

Candidais a common opportunistic pathogen during the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. Changes in the clinical severity of candidiasis and theCandidaspecies prevalence profile may be a reflection of immunological changes in HIV positive patients. The aim of this study was to document the changing pattern ofCandidaspecies prevalence profile in HIV seropositive patients from a tertiary care hospital in North India. One hundred and twenty HIV seropositive subjects were recruited forCandidamicrobial screening. Clinical specimens including blood, oral swabs, expectorated or induced sputum/bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, and urine were collected depending on the patient’s symptoms. A total of 128Candidaisolates were obtained from 88 cases and 7 differentCandidaspecies were identified.C. albicans(50%) was the most common species isolated followed byC. glabrata(17%) andC. dubliniensis(12.5%). Other species isolated wereC. parapsilosis(7.8%),C. krusei,C. tropicalis(4.6% each), andC. kefyr(3%). Strong clinical suspicion along with optimal sampling of an accurate diagnosis ofCandidaspecies involved would go a long way in decreasing the morbidity associated with non-albicans Candidaspecies.