A study on fluconazole resistance among candida species isolated from patients attending STD OPD in a tertiary care hospital

Back ground: Sexually transmitted infections are a significant public health problem worldwide as they cause widespread morbidity and mortality in both male & female. In developing countries, STI are the third most common public health problem in young people of reproductive age group. Aim of the Study: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Candida species causing genital candidiasis in patients attending STD clinic in tertiary care hospital & to know the fluconazole resistance pattern of the isolated Candida species. Materials and methods: KOH mount is done by adding 10% KOH to the smear made with the vaginal discharge to look for the presence of yeast cells/ hyphal elements. Gram stain is done to look for the presence of gram positive budding yeast cells. Results: In this present study, Candida glabrata was the most common species causing vaginal candidiasis (47%) and fluconazole resistance is more among the Candida non-albicans isolates (62%). Candida albicans is the most common species isolated from male samples. Fluconazole resistance is also increasing among the Candida albicans isolates (32% in females and 30% in males). Conclusion: Prevalence of fluconazole resistance among Candida isolates is also increasing. This is due to the inappropriate and over the counter usage of antifungal agents. The emergence of fluconazole resistant C. albicans and non albicans species emphasises the need of species identification and antifungal susceptibility in the diagnosis and management of vaginal candidiasis.