Antifungal drugs resistance profiles of C. albicans strains isolated from the oral cavity of children and adolescents

Abstract

Fungi, mainly yeast-like fungi of the Candida genus, and especially the species Candida albicans, occupy an important place among microorganisms that colonize the oral cavity. The aim of this paper was to assess the susceptibility of different strains to some antifungal drugs. The study material consisted of swab samples taken from the buccal mucosa of 376 healthy individuals of both genders, from neonate to18 years. C. albicans strains were isolated in 79 persons. To evaluate drug resistance phenotypes of the isolated C. albicans strains Fungitest TM (Bio-Rad) was used. The study showed that in different age groups the percentage of the tested C. albicans isolates susceptible to all the tested azole drugs varied from 76% to 95%. Drug-resistant strains were found only in the eldest age group (4.8%). Phenotypic diversity (drug resistance types) of the studied isolates indicates a wide range of adaptation possibilities enabling colonization of various ecological niches in the oral cavity ecosystem. The presence of C. albicans strains intermediate or resistant to azole drugs among the tested isolates may be due to the overuse of that drug group in general therapy and the oral cavity treatment.

Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida albicans Isolated from Tongue and Subgingival Biofilm of Periodontitis Patients

“…Their breakpoints, defined by themselves, were also different from the latest EUCAST recommendation. When our results are interpreted based on these breakpoints, they are concordant with the results of Kaminska et al [ 42 ]. However, the mentioned studies were conducted on Brazilian, Mexican and Polish populations.…”

“…Although some of the examined subjects were not sure if they had ever used antifungal topical therapy, they were quite sure about systemic antifungal treatment, which means that they were probably not treated with amphotericin B. This fact and the small number of isolates may be the reason for 100% susceptibility of isolates to amphotericin B. Kaminska et al examined oral specimens isolated from children’s (0–18 y) buccal swabs to multiple antifungals, also using commercially available tests [ 42 ]. Their breakpoints, defined by themselves, were also different from the latest EUCAST recommendation.…”