Open AccessEpidemiology of Mycotic Infections: Experience From A Tertiary Care Center Of Uttarakhand, India
Author(s) -
Ranjana Rohilla,
Aroop Mohanty,
Suneeta Meena,
Mamta Bora,
Anshu Singh,
Neelam Kaistha,
Pratima Gupta
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pathology update
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-9887
DOI - 10.17511/jopm.2021.i03.01
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , gram staining , population , dermatology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibiotics , environmental health
Introduction: The overall changing epidemiology of fungal infections in the current scenario isbecause of an increase in immunocompromised population including cancer patients, Humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, transplant receipts, and prolonged hospitalizationwith overuse of antimicrobial agents. These infections are challenging to diagnose and subsequentlymanage as their clinical symptomatology often mimics other common diseases like tuberculosis.Rapid diagnosis is limited and culture is often delayed due to slow growth rates of the causativeagents. Objective: This is a retrospective study to know the spectrum and burden of mycoticinfections in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: All samples collected from clinically suspected casesof fungal infections were sent to the Microbiology department over one year. The common specimensreceived were respiratory samples, scrapings from cornea, skin, and nail. All samples were firstobserved under direct microscopy using Potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination for the presence offungal elements and Gram stain for yeasts. India Ink examination was performed for sterile fluids.Fungal culture was done on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. Result: A total of 900 samples from variousdepartments were included, KOH examination was positive for 380 samples (42%) and fungalgrowth was obtained in 144 samples (16%). Rare fungi like Trichosporon dohaense (blood culture),Cladophialophora bantiana (brain abscess), Scedosporium apiospermum and Candida auris (bloodculture) were also isolated. Conclusion: Similar studies are needed to estimate the actual burden ofthe fungal infections in tertiary care health facilities, to help decrease the morbidity and mortalityassociated with underdiagnosed mycotic infections.