PREVALENCE OF CANDIDA CO-INFECTION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

*Dr. Vidya Shetty, Ph.D, Dr. Unnati Padalia, Ph.D, Dr. Sapna Malik M.D., Dr. Jyothirlatha Bangera, M.D.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In recent years, fungal infections are on the rise due to various predisposing factors such as long term administration of antibiotics, use of steroids, pulmonary tuberculosis, immunosuppressive drugs and HIV infection. When host resistance is lowered, these opportunistic fungi become fatal. Candida albicans was the most important pathogen, but in recent times there is an increase in non-albicans Candida species. Aims and Objectives: Our aim was to find out the prevalence of Candida co-infection among pulmonary tuberculosis and to identify various species of non-albicans Candida. Material and Methods: A total of 192 smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were included in the study. Only those samples which showed pus cells with budding yeast cells and pseudohyphae in gram stain were cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar. The Candida grown was identified and speciated by various tests. Results: Out of 192 patients,91 samples were positive for Candida species.49 were C.albicans, 28 were C.tropicalis, four each of C.parapsilosis and C.krusei, three C.glabarata, two of C.dubliniensis and a single strain of C.kefyr. In this study we found a shifting pattern of epidemiology of Candida species from commensal to emerging pathogen. Conclusion: Therefore, screening of tuberculosis patients for Candida infection should be routinely practiced. The prevalence with non-albicans Candida species is increasing and may be associated with inadequate response to antitubercular drugs.

Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis; Non-albicans Candida; prevalence.