Candida non albicans with a High Amphotericin B Resistance Pattern Causing Candidemia among Cancer Patients

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Many scientists have reported Candida species to be of great concern because of the highfrequency that they colonize and infect human hosts, particularly cancer patients. Moreover, in the last decadesCandida species have developed resistance to many antifungal agents. Based on this, we aimed to identify anddetermine the prevalence of Candida spp from blood culture bottles among cancer patients and their antifungalresistance pattern. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: From the blood culture bottles isolation and identification of theCandida spp were performed by conventional microbiological techniques. The in vitro antibiotic resistance patternof the isolates was determined by CLSI guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified. Each gene wasseparated by agar gel electrophoresis. <br/><b>Results</b>: Identification of Candida spp was based on the presence of yeastcells in direct examination, culture and DNA extraction. Of the 68 blood samples collected during the studyperiod (April 2013 to October 2013), five (7.35%) were positive for the presence of Candida spp, 2 (40%) of whichwere identified as Candida albicans and 3 (60%) were Candida non-albicans. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: High resistance toamphotricin B was observed among all the Candida non-albicans isolates. Regular investigations into antifungalresistance will help us to get an updated knowledge about their antibiotic resistance pattern which may help thephysician in selecting the antibiotics for empirical therapy.