DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.061

Pages: 3145-3150

The synergistic growth promoting association of Candida and Mycobacterium has raised increased concern for studying the various Candida species and its significance in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. This study was designed to document the prevalence of TB associated with respiratory candida infections in Dambatta Kano, Nigeria. The study included induced sputum samples from 300 patients with complaints of symptoms suggestive of TB infections. The TB was diagnosed by sputum Ziehl – Neelsen staining technique. Candida species were identified using microscopy following growth on SDA medium, germ tube formation, Dalmau Plate Technique (morphology on corn meal agar with tween 80) and specific colour appearance on Chromogenic Candida agar. Of the 300 sputum samples examined, 28(9.3%) were positive to AFB microscopy while 111(37%) yeast mainly belonging to the genus candida. Candida krusei was the most common isolates observed in 36(12%) of the patients, followed by Candida albicans 28(9.3%), then followed by Candida tropicalis 22(7.3%) and Candida glabrata with the prevalence of 14(4.7%). The least prevalence of 1(0.3%) each was observed in the genera Geotrichum and Rhodotorula. Mixed infections of C. tropicalis and C. krusei; C. krusei and C. albicans with the prevalence of 6(2.0%) and 3(1.0%) were observed. Candida co – infection with the TB was 7(2.3%) in male samples and 4(1.3%) in female samples (P = 0.009359). The prevalence of non – albicans species is increasing possibly due to their apparently greater capacity than C. albicans to invade deep tissues of immunocompromised host and inadequate response to anti – tuberculosis drugs.