PHENOTYPIC IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDA SPECIES AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH GENITOURINARY CANDIDIASIS

INTRODUCTION: Among the many causes of vaginitis, VVC is the second most common after bacterial vaginosis and is diagnosed in 40 % women with vaginal complaints in the primary care setting. Candida species account for almost 10-15% nosocomial UTIs.The incidence of fungal infections has increased dramatically over the past few decades due to increase in the number of population susceptible to Candida infections. Epidemiologic data from the past decade reveal a paradigm shift in Candida infections with non -albicans Candida species. The aim of the study was to identify the distribution of Candida species among genitourinary isolates by CHROMagar and HiCandida Identification kit and their sensitivity pattern.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples included high vaginal swabs, and urine, those which met the selection criteria were further processed for isolation, speciation and antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species. RESULTS: A total of 67 isolates of Candida species were obtained from 500 genitourinary specimens. Candida albicans was found to be the most frequently isolated species accounting for 31(46.26%) of the total isolates, followed by C.tropicalis 21(31.34%), C.parapsilosis 6(8.95%), C.krusei 5(7.46%), C.glabrata 3(4.47%) and C.dubliniensis 1(1.49%).Non-albicans Candida constituted 36(53.73%).Antifungal susceptibility pattern showed that Candida isolates were more sensitive to Amphotericin –B, compared to that of Clotrimazole, Fluconazole and Voriconazole. C.albicans showed more susceptibility to Azoles compared to that of non-albicans Candida. Voriconazole showed greater susceptibility compared to Fluconazole. CONCLUSION: Identification of Candida to species level and their antifungal susceptibility testing should be done to achieve better clinical results.