Evaluation of Species Distribution and Antifungal Resistance of Candida Isolates From Hospitalized Patients

Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine species and antifungal sensitivity of Candida strains. Material and Method: Candida spp. strains isolated from the clinical specimens of 221 patients who were hospitalized in Antalya Research and Training Hospital between May 2010 and May 2011 were included in the study and investigated retrospectively. Identification and antifungal sensitivities of the candida species were determined by VITEC 2 Compact System (BioMeriéux, France) beside conventional assays. Results: Respective ratio of Candida spp. growth to total growth was found as 7.6% (211/2915) and 10.3% (155/1499) in the ward and intensive care patients during the study period of 1 year. Of the isolates, 122 were identified as C. albicans, 28 C. parapsilosis, 27 C. tropicalis, 22 C. glabrata, 11 C. lusitaniae, four C. krusei, three C. kefyr, two C. guilliermondii and one as C. haemulonii. C. albicans was the most common isolated strain in all the specimen groups. Resistance rates against amphotericin B, fluconazole, flucytosine, and voriconazole were found as 5.8%, 4.5%, 3.2% and 1.4%, respectively. Discussion: Infections due to candida species are increasingly gaining importance. Increasing incidence of fungi infections resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality, and widespread use of empirical antifungals lead resistant fungal strains to rise. Considering highly variable resistance rates reported in our country; we believe it would be appropriate that both the hospitals to monitor Candida resistance and revize their empirical treatment and diagnosis approaches, and national data to be generated through multi-center studies