ABSTRACT
Introduction: Serious fungal infections particularly Candidainfection have increased in recent years.It is as a consequenceof increased immunosuppression associated with HIVinfection, organ and tissue transplant and aggressive treatmentfor neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. Study aimed toinvestigate biofilm formation among candida species isolatedfrom various clinical samples and its role in antifungalresistance.Material and methods: A retrospective observational studywas conducted from October 2017 to January 2019 in theDepartment of Microbiology, Jhalawar Medical College,Jhalawar. A total of 630 samples with suspected Candidainfections were collected and processed. A total of 313Candida isolates from various clinical samples were taken upfor the study. Samples were processed by Gram staining, KOHmount and culture on SDA and BHI agar. Isolated yeasts wereidentified and speciated by germ tube test, chlamydosporesformation on corn meal agar, color production on CHROMagar, sugar fermentation test and sugar assimilation test.Biofilm production was tested by Tube method and Tissueculture plate method. Antifungal susceptibility testing ofisolates was performed as per CLSI guidelines.Results: A total of 313 samples out 630 samples were positivefor candida infections. Out of 313 isolates, 157 (50.16%) werefound to be biofilm producers. Candida tropicalis (52.86%)was most common Candida species to be isolated as biofilmproducer followed by C. Parapsilosis (10.19%), C. glabrata(10.19%) and C. krusei (4.45%) while C. albicans was 35/157(22.29%). Antifungal resistant was found to be more in biofilmproducer and tissue culture plate method was found to be moresensitive than tube method for biofilm detection.Conclusion: There is increasing trend of antifungal resistanceamong candida isolates particularly in Non Albicans Candidaspecies. So, it is necessary to identify all yeast isolates up tospecies level and their potential for biofilm formation as it isone of the major virulence factors responsible for antifungalresistance. This will be helpful for efficient treatment,prevention of development of antifungal resistance and finally,the reduction of the treatment costs.