Candidemia in intensive care units and their antifungal susceptibility pattern

Authors

  • Kunalsen Jagatdeo Assistant professor, Department of Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Mayuri Baruah Junior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Shashir Wanjare Additional Professor, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Pallavi Vijay Surase Associate Professor (Addl) Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Shailesh Salve Junior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Gita Nataraj Professor Emeritus, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Keywords:

candidemia, antifungal susceptibility, non albicans candida, candida tropicalis

Abstract

Candida species are the commonest opportunistic fungal infections worldwide. The most common Candida species causing infection is Candida albicans. Candidemia is described as presence of candida species in bloodstream. It is a fatal fungal infection with mortality ranging from 35% to 75%. In ICU patients, the incidence varies from 0.24-34.3 patients per 1000 ICU admissions according to western literature. Antifungal susceptibility testing is a tool of increasing importance in clinical microbiological labs. The goal of AFST is to produce MIC values that may be used to guide patient therapy. Objective: Candidemia in intensive care units and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: Blood specimens from clinically suspected cases of BSI were processed by conventional blood culture or automated blood culture system as per availability. Blood from the bottles was subcultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, antifungal susceptibility was performed on Candida isolates against antifungal drugs by broth microdilution. Results: A total of 1816 patients of suspected BSI were admitted in the ICUs during the study period. 75 of these samples were positive for growth of Candida species. Candidemia among males and females was almost equal. Commonest non-albicans species isolated were C. tropicalis. Posaconazole and flucytosine are the two most susceptible antifungal drugs for all the isolated candida species. Conclusion: Antifungal susceptibility plays an important role in targeted therapy of infection caused by common and uncommon Candida species. This will help to prevent emerging antifungal resistance and thereby reduce patient morbidity and mortality.

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Published

2023-04-26

How to Cite

Kunalsen Jagatdeo, Mayuri Baruah, Shashir Wanjare, Pallavi Vijay Surase, Shailesh Salve, & Gita Nataraj. (2023). Candidemia in intensive care units and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. International Journal of Health and Clinical Research, 6(2), 1–5. Retrieved from https://www.ijhcr.com/index.php/ijhcr/article/view/5341