Search

Candidemia ranks the 4th most prevalence cause of bloodstream infections and stands out as the primary cause of invasive fungal infections among hospitalized patients. Its incidence varies globally from 0.33 to 6.51 episodes per 1000 admissions, representing a major public health burden due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rates. The present research work has been conducted to identify the distribution of Candida species among septicemic patients and to determine the patterns of antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolates from them in a tertiary care center in South India. Among the 88 Candida isolates, 13 (14.8%) were speciated and identified as C. albicans and 75 (85.2%) were Candida non-albicans. Of them, C. tropicalis (42%) ranks more prevalent. The distribution of virulence factors among 88 Candida isolates revealed that 49 isolates (55.7%) exhibited phospholipase activity, hemolysin production was detected in 68.2% of isolates, biofilm production was demonstrated in 73.9% isolates and coagulase activity was observed in 46.7% isolates. In the present study, Candida species were most sensitive to Amphotericin B (94.3%), which is followed by Caspofungin (93.2%), Voriconazole (92%), Micafungin (90.9%), and the least was observed with Flucytosine (78.4%) and Fluconazole (71.5%). Thus, in order to improve treatment responses, the insights acquired from this research will aid in clinical management and the development of antifungal stewardship recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida tropicalis is the fourth main infective agent of Candida species in several developing nations and leads to the greatest fatality rate among the non-albicans Candida (NAC) species that cause candidemia. Seventy clinically known Candida isolates are isolated in positively flagged blood samples from BacT/ALERT 3D from various wards. Virulence factors like hemolysin production, coagulase activity, phospholipase activity, and biofilm formation were studied and antifungal susceptibility testing was and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were interpreted. Of the total 70 clinical Candida isolates, the most predominant organism isolated was found to be C. tropicalis 27 (38.57%) which is succeeded by 19 (27.14%) C. albicans, 13 (18.57%) C. parapsilosis, 6 (8.57%) C. glabrata, and 5 (7.14%) C. krusei respectively. Among the70 Candida isolates, 49 (70%) showed hemolysin production, 43 (61.42%) isolates demonstrated phospholipase activity, 34 (48.57%) showed coagulase activity and 55 (78.57%) isolates showed biofilm production by crystal violet assay. A high level of Fluconazole resistance has been observed in 23 (32.85%) Candida isolates in comparison with other antimicrobials utilized in this study. The higher MIC value of: ≥ 64 µg/mL Fluconazole was shown by 4 (57.14%) isolates of C. tropicalis by broth microdilution method. The interpretation of various virulence factors and antifungal drug resistance were seen mostly among NAC species, thus hence signifying its pivotal role in immunocompromised individual treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candidemia is caused by healthcare-associated bloodstream infections ranking as a fifth cause especially in the United States as well as in european countries among intensive care units (ICUs). Despite ongoing advances in diagnostics and medical interventions, it remains associated with high mortality rates, along with the prolonged duration of hospitalization and elevated health care costs. the aim of the study is to characterize Candida species and to investigate the antifungal resistance pattern from blood samples in a tertiary Care centre. 53 known Candida isolates from blood samples of various wards and iCUs were collected. All isolates are processed and speciated by the conventional identification method demonstrating its various virulence factors phenotypically and AFSt patterns were studied. in the present study, among 53 Candida isolates, 25 (47.16%) C. tropicalis is a predominant pathogen followed by 11 (20.75%) C. parapsilosis, 9 (16.98%) C. albicans, 4 (7.54%) C. glabrata and 4 (7.54%) C. krusei. Phospholipase activity was observed in 30 (56.60%) isolates, 36 (67.92%) showed hemolysin production. AFSt showed 15 (28.30%) isolates being resistant to Fluconazole and 2 (3.77%) showed resistance to Amphotericin B. the prevalence of candidemia was high, the fatality rate was alarming and non-albicans Candida species were predominant and fluconazole was the least effective drug owing to the high level of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]