CLINICAL IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDA ISOLATES BY MALDI-TOF MS: A LABORATORY STUDY

Background: Candida species are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality among susceptible populations. Contemporary epidemiological data indicate a noticeable shift in infection trends away from Candida albicans (C. albicans) toward non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. The primary objectives of this research were therefore to identify the prevalent Candida species and to assess the efficacy of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of these species. Methods: The standard protocol was employed for processing all routine clinical samples submitted to the bacteriology and mycology departments. Identification of Candida species isolated from diverse clinical specimens was performed using MALDI-TOF MS between September 2022 and November 2023. Subsequently, these findings were recorded in tables and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: During the study period, a total of 342 Candida species were isolated. Patients diagnosed with candidiasis had a median age of 46.5 years and exhibited a male predominance. NAC species were the most frequently isolated group, with Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis) (30.40%) as the most common species, followed by Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) (14.32%). Furthermore, 40 strains of Candida auris (C. auris) were identified over the 15-month duration of the study (11.69%). Conclusion: The significance of Candida species, encompassing both NAC and novel, emerging drug-resistant strains, necessitates a cautious approach. Compared to conventional and automated systems that rely on biochemical reactions for the speciation of Candida isolates, MALDI-TOF MS offers a potentially advantageous alternative due to its rapid and accurate results.