Species Distribution and Drug Susceptibility of Candida Isolates from Various Clinical Specimens at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir

Aims: The aim of our study was to identify the distribution of Candida species among clinical isolates and their sensitivity pattern for common antifungal drugs.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College Srinagar, Kashmir, India, from December 2014 to January 2016.

Methodology: Identification of hundred and five different Candida species as well as antifungal sensitivity testing was performed with Vitek2 Compact (Biomerieux France) using vitek 2 cards for identification of yeast and yeast like organisms (ID-YST cards).

Results: Among the 105 culture positive isolates, 35 (33.3%) were C. albicans and 70 (66.6%) were Non Candida albicans (NCA). Among NCA, 35 (50%) were C. tropicalis followed by other species. All the Candida isolates were sensitive to micafungin and capsofungin whereas the susceptibility pattern of amphotericin B varied from 75.6% to 100% and the highest rates of resistance were seen for fluconazole.

Conclusions: Infections caused by Candida sp are on the rise. Hence accurate identification and susceptibility pattern is necessary for management of all Candida infections.