IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT CLINICAL SAMPLES AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY AGAINST COMMONLY USED ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS

Background & Objectives: Antifungal resistance is becoming prevalent in Candida species globally andthreating the human health. Aim of this study was to identify Candida to species levels isolated from differentclinical samples and analyze their antifungal susceptibility patterns.Methods: 70 Candida species isolated from 120 different clinical samples were identified and theirantifungal susceptibility testing was carried out against azoles, polyenes, echinocandins and pyrimidine byusing Vitek 2 Compact System.Results: Candida species were identified in 58.3% of clinical isolates from different samples of patients. Themost frequent strains found in female patients were of C. albicans, followed by C. glabrata, whereas in malepatients C. krusei was the commonest. All of the isolated Candida species showed resistance to Fluconazole(100%), whereas 46% showed resistance to Itraconazole and 28% were resistant to Voriconazole. However,the majority of isolates were sensitive to polyenes (Amphotericin B 91%), echinocandins (Caspofungin84%) and pyrimidine (Flucytosine 80%) respectively.Conclusion: Identification of Candida species and antifungal susceptibility testing is necessary to help thephysician in deciding on the suitable antifungal drug.