DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i08.085

Pages: 3460-3468

The aim and objective of the study was to isolate Candida species , find its frequency from various clinical samples ( sputum, urine, high vaginal swab, ET tube swab, nail clippings, pus, etc).,their speciation and to bring out the various risk factors associated with candidiasis A total of 250 Candida species isolated from various clinical specimens in our institute from June 2016 to June 2017 were included in the study. Standard yeast identification protocol and Hichrom agar were used for speciation. Out of the total 2350 clinical samples, 250 candida species were isolated , thus the prevalence of 9.4%. Among the 250 culture positive cases, 118 (47.2%) C. albicans, 64 (25.6%) C. tropicalis, 75 (30%), C. glabrata, 38 (15.2%), C. krusei 14 (5.6%) and C. parapsilosis 5 (2%) were obtained. Non albicans Candida predominated (52.8%) over Candida albicans(47.2%). Males were affected more than the females. In both the sexes maximum patients belonged to the age group of >60 years. In the present study prevalence of candidiasis is 9.4%. The risk factors for candidiasis noted in this study were diabetes mellitus, prolonged antibiotic therapy, steroids and pregnancy. Along with Candida albicans , non-albicans Candida(NAC) species like C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis are increasingly being isolated from clinical samples. Characterization upto species level is important for early treatment decisions and effective management as some NAC species are intrinsically resistant to antifungal agents. Hichrom Candida agar is useful for the primary isolation and differentiation of medically important Candida species.