[Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Candida species in ICU].
Two hundred sixty three Candida isolates were obtained from specimens of patients hospitalized in a Intensive Care Unit. Candida albicans was the predominant species, followed by C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata e C. parapsilosis. For C. albicans isolates, amphotericin B was the more efficient antifungal (2.3% of resistant strains), while voriconazole was the more efficient for C. krusei and C. glabrata, known for their lower susceptibility to fluconazole. RAPD-PCR technique with CDU primer was used for the molecular characterization of 48 C. albicans strains isolated from 10 patients. Genetic similarity at 90% level was observed for some Candida strains isolated from the same patient, indicating a possible colonization from the original strain. Moreover the high similarity coefficient observed between isolates from different patients may indicate an exogenous colonization originating from hospital-endemic strains or inadequate manipulation by health care workers.
Fadda
M E
ME
Dipartimento di Biologia Sperimentale, Sezione di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Cagliari. mefadda@unica.it
Podda
G S
GS
Pisano
M B
MB
Deplano
M
M
Viale
S
S
Corda
A
A
Cosentino
S
S
D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010641:Phenotype