Epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species in a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata, India

The increase in candidaemia is associated with high mortality and morbidity in the developed countries. A trend has been observed in the relative frequency of each Candida spp. isolated from blood. Polyenes, allylamines, azoles are the only available antifungal treatment option for systemic and invasive candidiasis. In past few decades the incidence of resistance in antifungal treatment of candida species is increasing rapidly, which may be a issue of concern with the health care professional. Studies on prevalence of infections and antifungal susceptibility testing are useful in deciding clinical strategies.
Aims: To do species level identification and detect antifungal susceptibility of candida species isolated from blood culture.
From total 70 patients from a tertiary care hospital of Kolkata, Candida species were isolated from blood culture and antifungal susceptibility was done by the Vitek 2- compact automated system.
Out of total 70 samples, C. albicans were isolated from 34 (48.57%), among other non albicans, C. non albicans species 12 (17.14%), followed by Candida tropicalis 10 (14.29%). Out of 34 C. albicans antifungal susceptibility was done for 28 isolates in which all isolates were sensitive to Fluconazole, and resistance Amphotericine B, Flucytosine, Voriconazole and Itraconazole in 44.12%, 52.94%, 8.82% and 17.65% cases respectively. For other candida species (other than C. albicans) , antifungal susceptibility was done for 27 isolates among which resistance of Amphotericine B, Fluconazole, Flucytosine, Voriconazole, Itraconazole was found in 29.63%, 44.44%, 14.82%, 14.82% and 22.22% cases respectively