Candida bloodstream infections among immunocompromised patients in Mansoura university hospitals: species distribution and antifungal susceptability

ABSTRACT

Bloodstream infections [BSI] due to Candida species are important complications in immunocompromised patients. This study presents data on species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida bloodstream isolates obtained from Mansoura University Hospitals [MUH] over a 2-year period. All the bloodstream isolates were identified to species level by CHROMagar Candida cornmeal-Tween 80 agar, and API 20C [bioMerieux, France]. Susceptibility to triazole antifungal drugs were determined by M 27A2 [broth microdilution method] of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI]. C. albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. dubliensis . All C. dubliensis, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata isolates were susceptible to triazoles. Resistance to fluconazole was observed in 3.8% [1/13] of C. albicans isolates, 50% [2/4] of C. glabrata isolates and 100% [4/4] of C. krusei isolates. Resistance to voriconazole was observed in 4 isolates [12.1%]. Our findings show that C. albicans is the most common cause of Candida-related BSI, followed by C. parapsilosis, and that the rates of resistance to triazole antifungals are low among bloodstream Candida isolates in MUH