Candida species identification from clinical specimens and its changing pattern in a tertiary care hospital

The object of the Study was to isolate & identify Candida species from various routine culture specimens and prevalence of fluconazole resistance among them which will guide the clinician towards appropriate management. During the three months of duration total 62 (1.73%) yeast like cells were isolated from total 3580 routine culture specimens. All were processed by using Gram stain, germ tube, carbohydrate assimilation, chromogenic agar medium, SDA broth, microscopic morphology on cornmeal agar(By Dalmau culture). Susceptibility to fluconazole disc(25 μg/disc) was done. Out of 62 isolates 27(43.54%)were C.tropicalis, 19(30.64%) C.albicans, 7(11.29%) C.guilliermondii, 5(8.06%) C.parapsilosis, 3(4.84%) C.kefyr, 1(1.62%) C.glabrata. Thus non albicans were the major isolates. Neonates were at higher risk of developing candidemia. Surprisingly all the isolated C.guilliermondii were from blood culture of neonates. Fluconazole resistance was more among albicans (58%).