Amira M El-Ganiny - Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Nehal Yossef - Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Hend Kamel - Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Background and Purpose: There is a significant rise in morbidity and mortality of infections caused by Candida. Candida spp. infections are currently ranked fourth among nosocomial infections which are difficult to diagnose and refractory to therapy.Given the differences in susceptibility among various spp., identification of Candida spp. is an important step that leads to the selection of a suitable antifungal.Materials and Methods: A prevalence study was on ۱۲۲ Candida isolates. The Candida spp. were identified using Chromogenic agar and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antifungal susceptibility (AFS) of Candida spp. to amphotericin B, fluconazole,voriconazole, and caspofungin was determined by the disc diffusion method.Results: In total, ۱۲۲ Candida clinical isolates were investigated in this study. Candida albicans with ۵۷.۴% (۷۰ isolates) had the highest prevalence rate, while ۵۲ isolates (۴۲.۶%) were non-albicans Candida species (NAC). The NAC include Candida krusei (۲۰.۴%), Candida tropicalis (۶.۵%), Candida parapsilolsis (۵.۷%), Candida dubliniensis (۴.۹%), and Candida glabrata (۴.۹%). The AFS showed that the resistance rates of Candida spp. to fluconazole and voriconazole were ۱۳.۱% (۱۶ isolates) and ۹.۸% (۱۲ isolates), respectively. Moreover, only five isolates (۴.۱%) were resistant to caspofungin. Furthermore, there was no resistance against amphotericin B. The spp. that showed the highest resistance were C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, while the lowest resistance was observed in C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.Conclusion: In conclusion, rapid identification of clinical Candida isolates and standard AFS are essential procedures for controlling the rise of resistant NAC spp.in clinical settings. Usage of fluconazole should be restricted, especially in patients with recurrent Candida infections.

antifungal drug resistance, azoles and caspofungin, candida albicans, Nonalbicans, Nosocomial infections