SPECIATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF CANDIDA ISOLATES FROM VARIOUS CLINICAL SPECIMENS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, MAHARASHTRA

Introduction: Candida species are one of the major human opportunistic pathogen. Various factors like indiscriminate use of antibiotics, AIDS and other immunosuppressive conditions have led to significant rise in Candida and other fungal infections. Emergence of Antifungal resistance has further complicated the situation. Material and Method: This prospective study was conducted at a multispecialty tertiary care centre in Maharashtra for 18 months. A total of 164 Candida isolates from various clinical specimens were analysed. Repeat isolates from same patient were excluded. Species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing was done using Vitek 2 system. Results: Out of 164 Candida isolates, Candida albicans 67(40.8%) was the most common species followed by Candida tropicalis 48(29.3%), Candida parapsilosis 16(9.7%), Candida famata 15(9.1%), Candida ciferrii 6(3.6%), Candida lusitaniae 5 (3%). From Urine, Sputum, Pus and Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid Candida albicans was most common isolate; while non-albicans Candida species were most commonly isolated from Blood, Endotracheal secretion. Candida isolates showed maximum resistance to Voriconazole (9.7%), followed by Flucytosine (5.5%), Amphotericin B (2.4%), Caspofungin (2.4%), Micafungin (2.4%) and Fluconazole (1.2%).