Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species in a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 2014 to February 2015, and comprised different clinical samples which were analysed for various types of microbial infections. Species differentiation was confirmed by biochemical and molecular methods. Antifungal susceptibility against amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole was determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M44-A disk diffusion method. RESULTS: Of the 219 Candida isolates, majority of them were isolated from urine 78(35.6%) and vaginal swabs 59(26.9%). Moreover, 144(65.8%) samples were of females and 75(34.2%) were of males. Candida albicans 128(58.45%) was the most predominant species followed by Candida glabrata 30(13.69%), Candida tropicalis 26(11.87%), Candida krusei 17(7.76%), Candida parapsilosis 12(5.47%), Candida dubliniensis 3(1.37%) and Candida lusitaniae 3(1.37). All isolates were least susceptible to amphotericin B with a susceptibility rate of 213(97.26%). The highest resistance was found for voriconazole 40(18.26%) compared to fluconazole 32(14.61%). CONCLUSIONS: Candida species possessed high resistance rate against various antifungal agents.