Speciation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Candida Isolates from Urine Samples of Patients Admitted in ICU's

Background: The presence of Candida species in urine is rarely encountered in healthy people.However, it is of common occurrence in hospitalized patients and in critically ill patients and may also be life-threatening.The immune status of ICU patients is always on the weaker side which is beneficial for the Candida species to cause infections in these patients.Objective: The aim of the study is to identify and speciate Candida species in urine of patients admitted in Intensive Care Units, and determine the antifungal susceptibility testing for the different species identified.Results: Among the 82 samples, C. tropicalis was the most prevalent species (n=30), followed by C. glabrata (n=19) and C. albicans (n=16). Notably, C. krusei exhibited 100% resistance to fluconazole. While C. tropicalis and C. glabrata showed moderate resistance, C. guilliermondii and C. parapsilosis remained highly susceptible to most antifungals. Conclusion: The growing trend towards NAC species among ICU patients with candiduria is a pointer towards the need for improved diagnosis and treatment protocols. An effective antifungal stewardship program and de-escalating therapy are absolutely necessary in the management of resistant Candida infection, preventing hospital stay, and enhancing patient outcomes.