Molecular Identification and Determination of Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Candida Species Isolated from AIDS Patients in Ahwaz City

Background and Aim: Candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients caused by different Candida species. The aim of this study was to do molecular identification and determine the antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida species, isolated from the mouths of AIDS patients by the disk diffusion method. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 samples collected from the oral cavity of 50 AIDS patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in Ahvaz City. After microscopic and macroscopic identification, these samples were finally identified by PCR RFLP method. For these 50 isolates, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method, based on CLSI-M44-A standard protocol. Results: In this study, among 50 samples collected from the oral cavity of AIDS patients, we found Candida albicans in 36% (18), Candida glabrata in 30% (15), Candida tropicalis in 26% (13), Candida krusei in 6% (3) and Candida parapsilosis in 2 % (1) of the cases. Our results showed that clotrimazole, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole had the highest antifungal effect on Candida species, respectively. While fluconazole showed less antifungal activity compared to the other antifungal drugs. Conclusion: Considering the better antifungal activity of voriconazole and itraconazole compared to fluconazole and the increasing resistance to fluconazole, which is the main antifungal used in the treatment of AIDS patients with OPC, itraconazole and voriconazole can be used as alternative oral antifungal drugs in the treatment of these patients.