A Study on Prevalence and Characterization of Candida Species in Immunocompromised Patients

Abstract

Candida spp. is one among the major causes of nosocomial infection, with candidemia gaining increasing prevalence worldwide in parallel with mortality rates ranging from 10-49%. Epidemiology and predisposing factors of candidemia have changed since the number of patients receiving transplants and immunosuppressive therapy, the use of broadspectrum antimicrobials, and the number of AIDS patients have increased. Candidemia is more common among patients with subcutaneous and cutaneous candida infections, through percutaneous inoculation. Major predisposing factors for invasive candidiasis includes neutropenia, haematological malignancies, bone marrow transplantation, total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, invasive procedures, and immune-suppressive agents. This study analyses the risk factors of immunocompromised patients with candidemia and antibiogram of Candida spp. isolated from ICU patients. To evaluate the prevalence, distribution and antibiogram of Candida spp., associated risk factors, and outcome in candidemia patients. Blood samples received from patients with clinically suspected fungal infections were subjected to gram staining, culture, sugar assimilation & fermentation, Candida Chrome agar (CCA) & Corn meal agar for identification and speciation. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed by disk-diffusion tests. Among a total of 337 samples received, 22 (6.5%) samples were positive for candida infections, of which Candida tropicalis 9 (41%) was the predominant isolate followed by C. albicans 5 (23%), Candida glabrata 4 (18%), Candida parapsilosis 2 (9%) and Candida krusei 2 (9%). Male patients had a higher prevalence of candidemia 15 (68.2%). Among the age group of 51-70 years, uncontrolled DM(Diabetes mellitus) and CKD (chronic kidney disease) were found to be the predominant co-morbidities with candidemia.

Six-Year Retrospective Analysis of Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Antifungal Susceptibilities of Candidiasis from a Tertiary Care Hospital in South China

“…These findings are inconsistent with another study from southwest China ( 56 ). The high resistance rate of itraconazole compared to fluconazole and voriconazole might be due to its broader spectrum of activity, higher dosage requirements, and different mechanisms of action from other triazoles ( 57 – 59 ).…”

Synthetic Glycans to Improve Current Glycoconjugate Vaccines and Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

“…385 The epidemiology of candidemia has changed due to the increased number of patients receiving transplants and immunosuppressive therapy, use of broad spectrum antimicrobials, and number of AIDS patients. 386 Particularly, invasive candidiasis was mainly caused by Candida albicans, but in the past decade there has been a shift toward Candida spp. non-albicans, essentially due to the advent of Candida auris, identified in Japan in 2009 and recently recognized as an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen that poses a major global health threat, including in the US.…”

“…are also among the major causes of nosocomial infection, with invasive candidiasis gaining increasing prevalence worldwide in parallel with mortality rates ranging from 10 to 49% . The epidemiology of candidemia has changed due to the increased number of patients receiving transplants and immunosuppressive therapy, use of broad spectrum antimicrobials, and number of AIDS patients . Particularly, invasive candidiasis was mainly caused by Candida albicans , but in the past decade there has been a shift toward Candida spp.…”

Azole resistance in Candida auris: mechanisms and combinatorial therapy

“…Patients with immunocompromised conditions, such as cancer patients, transplant patients, patients on various antibiotics for an extended length of time, and patients who have just undergone surgery, are at a higher risk of Candida spp. infection-related mortality [12,13]. It spreads easily between nursing home residents and hospitalized patients, causing serious infections [6].…”