Candida species isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary hospital in Honduras: Where is Candida auris?

Infections by emerging and multiresistant Candida species are becoming more frequent throughout the world. This study aimed to describe Candida species in different wards of a tertiary hospital in Honduras.

Prevalence of species within the C. albicans complex was estimated using a molecular approach, and C. auris was investigated using a yeast pool-based DNA extraction method. Three hundred and twenty-eight yeast isolates were identified using phenotypic approaches. For identification of species within the albicans complex, a molecular approach based on the size polymorphisms of the hpw1 gene was used. In addition, we optimized a technique based on DNA extraction in pools for the rapid identification of C. auris.

Eleven species of Candida were identified in the hospital wards. Candida albicans showed the highest number of isolates (52.4%). Within the Candida albicans complex, C. albicans sensu stricto was the most common followed by C. dubliniensis. C. auris was not found.

Reports on the distribution of Candida species in Honduras are limited, thus the data from this study are of importance for a better understanding of their epidemiology. Also, we offer a simple method for the detection of C. auris that could help in its detection in low-resource settings.