DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.071

Pages: 1385-1390

The frequency of invasive mycoses due to opportunistic fungal pathogens has increased significantly and is becoming increasingly prevalent in the human population, especially in immunocompromised patients. This increase in infections has found to be associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. It is directly related to increasing patient populations at risk for the development of serious fungal infections. A total of 88 cases of patients suffering from various types of cancer, and an HIV positive patient was investigated. Among them, 36 (41 %) cases were found to be positive for the occurrence of fungal infections. Out of 36 cases 20 (55.5 %) patients were male and 16 (44.4 %) were females. Amongst females almost all were suffering from cervix cancer 87 %, followed by breast cancer. Total 54 isolates were obtained, including 29 (54%) isolates of filamentous fungi and 25 (46%) isolates were yeast. Aspergillus species 17 (47 %) have been the most frequently isolated fungi followed by yeast Candida 12 (33%). In this study apart from Aspergillus, non–aspergillus species belonging to phaeohyphomycetes and hyalohyphomycetes were also isolated. Dematiaceous fungi isolated included Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp., Curvularia sp.. Hyaline fungi isolated were Geomyces pannorum, Acremonium sp., Humicola sp., Wallemia sebi. Amongst Candida the non -albicans were 10 (83 %) and albicans were 2 (17 %). Amongst yeasts, Candida versatilis were abundant that is 5 (20%) followed by Debaryomyces hensenii 3 (15 %) and then Candida albicans 2 (8 %).