Abstract

The present study was designed to isolate, characterize and perform the antifungal susceptibility pattern for Candida albicans and non albicans Candida among the patients who visited the Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at Sendamangalam Primary Health Centre, Namakkal. Vaginal swabs were obtained from 125 women in the age group of 16 to 49 years and a detailed clinical history was obtained with a short questionnaire. A standard procedure was employed for the isolation and identification ofCandida spp. of the 125 samples collected, Candida albicans was isolated in 18 (14.4%) cases and non albicans Candida was isolated in 10 (8%) cases which include Candida tropicalis (3.2%), Candida glabarata (2.4%), Candida dubliniensis (1.6%) and Candida krusei (0.8%). The positivity was assessed over the various socio-demographic profile, risk factors and symptoms. Among the occupational group, daily wagers were significantly associated (p < 0.00) with the C. albicans positivity and the symptom dysuria was statistically significant (p < 0.03). The socio-demographic variables had no significant association with non albicans Candida. Antifungal susceptibility test revealed that resistance to Amphotericin B is infrequent, and all the isolates showed resistance to Clotrimazole and Itraconazole. Most of these isolates showed resistance to more than three antifungal agents and to assess their resistance pattern, ten different patterns were obtained. Therefore, this work emphasizes the need for testing the antifungal susceptibility tests for the Candida isolates to control the spread of new resistant strains in future.

Key words: Candida albicans, non albicans Candida, integrated counseling and testing centre (ICTC) patients, antifungal agents, resistance.