Identification and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from a tertiary hospital in Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Candida species is a genus of yeast that can be commensals or pathogenic, causing invasive fungal infections that could lead to morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the identity, prevalence and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from clinical samples of patients attending a tertiary Hospital in Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 286 yeast isolates were recovered from clinical samples of patients sent to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Identification of yeast isolates and antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) of the isolates to different antifungal agents were assayed using VITEK-2 Compact System (Biomerieux, France). A total of 286 yeast isolates which included 283 Candida isolates identified into six (6) Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Nakaseomyces glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Pichia kudriavzevii (formally Candida krusei) and Candida ciferrii, and 2 non-candida yeast (Papiliotrema laurentii formally Cryptoccocus laurentii and Trichosporon asahii) were recovered. The prevalence of Candida species in this study was 21.7%, while that of yeast infection was 21.9%. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species, accounting for 69.6% of isolates while Candida ciferrii was the least isolated (0.3%). Urine specimens had the highest yield of yeast isolates (43.4%), followed by Endocervical swab (24.8%), while blood had the lowest yield (0.7%). Females had higher prevalence of yeast infection than the males (91.6% vs. 8.4%, p < 0.001). Although poor susceptibility was shown to flucytosine (44.9%) and fluconazole (57.9%), the most active antifungal agents were voriconazole (92.2%) and caspofungin (93.2%). There is an urgent need for regional and national surveillance of yeasts of medical importance. To aid effective diagnosis and treatment, culture and AST though expensive is strongly encouraged in resource-limited settings.