PREVALENCE OF DRUG RESISTANT CANDIDA SPECIES IN A TERTIARY CARE SETTING

Authors

Ishwaryalakshmi R, Padmavathi BK, Madhavi S, Raghavendra Rao AV, 5Reena Rajan Author

Keywords:

andida species; Candida albicans; Fungal infections; Antifungal resistance.

Abstract

Background:With the rise in patients who are elderly, immunocompromised, getting aggressive and protracted antimicrobial cancer chemotherapy, or having invasive surgery and organ transplantation, candidiasis has become a concerning opportunistic disease. There have been many instances of Candida infections in India during the past few decades. The most prevalent and aggressive pathogenic species in the genus Candida is thought to be Candida albicans.
Aim : The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Candida species from clinical samples and to determine the prevalence of drug resistance in Candida species in a tertiary care setting.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital between February 2024 and July 2024. The study included a total of 100 Candida isolates from individuals with a clinical suspicion of fungal infections. Samples were prepared using a standard microbiological technique, and antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out in accordance with CLSI guidelines.
Results: Among 100 samples, Candida albicans (44) were found predominantly found with increased resistance to itraconazole.
Conclusion: In conclusion, long-term itraconazole prophylaxis in patients is associated with reduction in susceptibility to itraconazole