CHARACTERISATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SENSITIVITY OF URINARY CANDIDA ISOLATES AMONG ADULT HIV/AIDS PATIENTS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH CD4 COUNT

Nirmaljit Kaur, Neelmani Raj, Saloni Garg* and Shalini Malhotra

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to characterize and evaluate antifungal resistance in Candida species isolated from urinary tract infections among HIV positive patients and to determine its correlation with CD4 count. Early morning midstream urine samples were collected and screened for candiduria from 635 HIV positive patients attending ICTC and ART centre in our hospital after obtaining written informed consent from the patients. Samples were processed by standard methods for isolation of Candida and Candida was isolated in 30 samples. Speciation was done by a germ tube test, morphology on corn meal agar with tween 80, CHROM agar (Himedia) and carbohydrate assimilation test. The majority of Candida species among the Candida isolates were Candida albicans (40%) followed by Candida tropicalis (30%), Candida krusei (16%), Candida parasilosis (7%) and Candida glabrata (7%). Antifungal susceptibility testing was also done on the isolates for Fluconazole and voriconazole by disc diffusion and E-test method. Fluconazole resistance was found in 10 isolates (more in non-albicans Candida than C. albicans) whereas most isolates were found to be sensitive to voriconazole. This study concludes that Injudicious use of azoles should not be done as it can lead to emergence of resistance and treatment failure.

Keywords: Candiduria; HIV/AIDS; Characterization; Antifungal.