title: Species distribution and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of oral yeast isolates from Tanzanian HIV-infected patients with primary and recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Tanzania, little is known on the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of yeast isolates from HIV-infected patients with primary and recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 296 clinical oral yeasts were isolated from 292 HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Identification of the yeasts was performed using standard phenotypic methods. Antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, amphotericin B and nystatin was assessed using a broth microdilution format according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI; M27-A2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species from 250 (84.5%) patients followed by C. glabrata from 20 (6.8%) patients, and C. krusei from 10 (3.4%) patients. There was no observed significant difference in species distribution between patients with primary and recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis, but isolates cultured from patients previously treated were significantly less susceptible to the azole compounds compared to those cultured from antifungal naïve patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species from patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. Oral yeast isolates from Tanzania had high level susceptibility to the antifungal agents tested. Recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis and previous antifungal therapy significantly correlated with reduced susceptibility to azoles antifungal agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. dromar20@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Omar J M
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.forename: Mecky I N
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Matee
authors.forename: Mainen J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moshi
authors.forename: Elison N M
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mugusi
authors.forename: Frans H M
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Mikx
authors.forename: Wim H van Palenstein
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Helderman
authors.forename: Antonius J M M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rijs
authors.forename: André J A M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Ven
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Verweij
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents