Speciation and antifungal susceptibility pattern of candida isolated from HIV patients

Abstract

Background and Objectives - Candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV infected patients. Though C. albicans species is the major cause of infection, there is a gradual shift towards non albicans Candida species, particularly in patient with advanced immunosuppression. Several non albicans Candida species are inherently resistant to commonly used antifungal drugs. The objective of the present study was to speciate Candida isolated from HIV infected patients and to evaluate its antifungal susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods - From the period of October 2014 to December 2014, various samples were collected from HIV patients from ART OP with clinical feature suggestive of candidiasis. Candida thus isolated was speciated by germ tube test, growth at 45 degree celsius, morphology on corn meal agar and Hicrome Candida agar. Antifungal susceptibility was          performed by disc diffusion method. RESULTS - Out of 108 HIV positive patients with clinical features suggestive of Candidial infection, Candida was isolated from 48 samples. Candida albicans (59 percentage) was the predominant species followed by Candida tropicalis (27 percentage). Antifungal susceptibility testing showed 36 percentage of the species were resistant to Fluconazole. Conclusion - Though Candida albicans was the major isolate, non albicans Candida species were also implicated more in number. Hence it is essential to know the changing pattern of candida species and its antifungal susceptibility for appropriate antifungal therapy