SPECIATION OF CANDIDA & ITS ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE FROM PATIENTS WITH VAGINITIS ATTENDING STD CLINIC AT A TERITIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr. Fouzia Farheen* and Dr. G. Jyothilakshmi

ABSTRACT

Background: Candidiasis is the most common vaginal infection affecting approximately 75% of reproductive age group women. Rapid identification of yeast isolates to species level is essential to optimize antifungal treatment. Aim: To identify the species of Candida from patients of vaginitis and to study antifungal susceptibility pattern of isolated candida species. Methods: Vaginal swabs were collected from women in the reproductive age groups who attended STD clinic with clinically diagnosed vaginitis during the months of June 2019 to December 2019. The swabs were inoculated onto SDA. 91 candida were isolated. Isolated colonies of candida were inoculated onto CHROM agar & species were identified by color of the colonies produced as per manufacturer chart. Colonies also inoculated onto corn meal agar for chlamydospore formation. Antifungal susceptibility was done by disc diffusion method. Results: A total of 150 women of reproductive age group who were clinically diagnosed to have Vaginal Candidiasis were included in the study. Out of 150 vaginitis patients, 91 were positive for Candida species. All the isolates were speciated comprising 4 species. C. albicans - 42 (46.1%), C. glabrata - 41 (45.1%), C. Krusei - 5 (5.5%) and C. tropicalis - 3 (3.3%). Antifungal susceptibility testing result of all Candida isolates - 100% susceptible to amphotericin B, nystatine, flucytocine, voriconazole, ketoconazole. All the Candida isolates except C. krusei were sensitive to fluconazole. C. krusei showed 100% resistance to fluconazole. Discussion: In the present study, C. albicans is most common species (46.1%) followed by C. glabrata. C. albicans adhere to vaginal epithelial cells in significant higher number than other Candida species this could explain relative higher frequency of C. albicans in vaginal Candidiasis. Conclusion: Presumptive identification followed by confirmation of Candida species helps to initiate early appropriate antifungal treatment there by reducing the morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Vaginitis, Non albicans candida, Antifungal susceptibility.