CORRELATION OF CANDIDAL SPECIES DIVERSITY BETWEEN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS AND HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS

Oral Candidiasis is considered one of the most prone opportunistic infection in patients of HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) infection in India. Candida being one of most important etiological agents for morbidity and mortality among patients with AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome). Antifungal agents can effectively treat mucosal candidiasis, but however prolonged management can lead to colonization with minimal amount of species present along with other normal susceptible strains. (1) Less commonly found candidal non-albicans species such as C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusie and several other species may cause the disease. C.dubliniensis, a species almost similar to C. albicans might involve 15% of infections previously occurred due to C. albicans. By the presence of variable candidal species as pathogenic organisms and a change in the development of susceptibility pattern of C. albicans, providing the need for isolation and identification of the particular causing organisms. Oral colonizing species with drug resistant organisms is more common in advanced HIV infection warranting the discussion on different species of candida and their potential to harbor resistance against anti-fungal drugs. (2)