Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility of pathogenic fungi isolated at Assiut university hospitals

ABSTRACT

The incidence of invasive opportunistic mycoses [10Ms] has increased because of the expanding population of immunosuppressed patients raising the demand for identification of local epidemiologic trends, the degree of virulence and antifungal susceptibility pattern of fungal pathogens. Identification of the local epidemiology of l0Ms at Assiut University hospitals showed that there is a marked shift to Candida non albicans [can], rare yeasts that cause Candida like infections, zygomycetes, hyaline moulds and a wide variety of dematiaceous fungi. In vitro susceptibility testing pattern of isolated fungal pathogens against 8 antifungal agents; Amphotericin B [AP], Nystatin [NS], l;luconalole [FU], Ketoconazole [KT], Clotrimazole [CC], Voriconazole [VOR], Itraconazole [IT] andv Terbinafinc showed that these emerging pathogens are resistant to conventional antifungals, in addition, they pose a high enzymatic and toxigenic ability making them more virulent and infections caused by them more aggressive and very difficult to manage