Antifungal Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Candida albicansspecies complex in Southeastern Iran

Background and Aim : C. albicans species complex, including C. albicans, C. africana, and C.dubliniensis, represent an epidemiological concern worldwide since antifungal susceptibilitypatterns often vary among them. We here aim to investigate the antifungal susceptibility patternof C. albicans species complex, obtained from different clinical samples in Kerman, southeast Iran.Methods : A total of ۷۳ Candida albicans species complex including C. albicans (n=۶۶), C.africana (n=۴), and C. dubliniensis (n=۳), were studied. All Candida isolates were tested for invitro susceptibility to the amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole,and caspofungin according to the CLSI broth dilution method.Results : All ۷۳ Candida isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and posaconazole (۱۰۰%).Overall, ۷۲.۶% and ۱۳.۷% of C. albicans isolates were resistant and susceptible-dose dependent tofluconazole, respectively. Besides, ۳۲ isolates (۴۸.۴%), and ۸ isolates (۱۲.۲ %) of C. albicansstrains were susceptible and resistant to itraconazole, respectively. In addition, ۱۴.۲% of C.albicans isolates were resistant to caspofungin. All the C. africana and C. dubliniensis isolates weresusceptible to all the tested antifungals. Cross-resistance to both fluconazole and itraconazole wasobserved in two C. albicans isolates.Conclusion : This study demonstrated that for effective management of candidiasis, antifungalsusceptibility monitoring of Candida species should be regularly performed since some speciesshow a varying rate of resistance to antifungal drugs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Candida albicans ، Candidiasis ، Antifungal agents ، Iran.