PREVALENCE OF CANDIDA INFECTION AND ITS ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, AHMEDABAD

Abstract

Introduction: In the past three decades with the use of potent antibacterial immunosuppressive and cytotoxic drugs, lethal invasive candidiasis has been described with increasing frequency. Patients admitted at tertiary care hospitals have access to very intensive management modalities. This, along with increasing number of immune-compromised patients, has lead to rise in infections caused by candida especially by NCA (Non Candida Albicans).

Methodology: Duration of the study was from 1^st July- 2011 to 30^th June 2012. Candida species isolated from various clinical specimens were subjected to speciation using standard yeast identification protocol and CHROM agar. Antifungal susceptibility testing was done by the disc diffusion method against Amphotericin B and Azole group of antifungals like Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Clotrimazole and Voriconazole.

Results: Among the 430 culture positive isolates 161(37.4%) were C. albicans and 269 (62.6%) were non candida albicans. Among NCA, 176(40.9%) were C. tropicalis followed by other species. Susceptibility pattern showed that Azole group 25.5% sensitive among C. albicans and 18.7% sensitive among C. tropicalis while in Amphotericin B sensitivity varies from 75.6% to 100% to all isolated spp. of candida.

Conclusion: In this study C. tropicalis was the most common yeast isolated from all the clinical samples. The C. albicans and NCA showed highly susceptible to Amphotericin B, followed by Voriconazole & Clotrimazole, is the drug of choice.