[Species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of yeast clinical isolates from three hospitals in Korea, 2001 to 2007].
BACKGROUND
We utilized results from the ARTEMIS DISK Global Antifungal Surveillance Program to evaluate the species distribution and fluconazole and voriconazole susceptibilities of yeast isolates from clinical specimens in South Korea from 2001 to 2007.


METHODS
Data were collected on 5,665 yeast isolates from all body sites at three locations. All investigators tested clinical yeast isolates using the CLSI M44-A disk diffusion method. Test plates were automatically read and results were recorded using the BIOMIC image analysis plate reader system (Giles Scientific, USA). Species, drug, zone diameter, susceptibility category, and quality control results were collected quarterly via e-mail for analysis.


RESULTS
Candida albicans was the most common isolate, but a progressive increase in non-C. albicans Candida and noncandidal yeast species has been observed in recent years. The overall percentages of isolates in each category (susceptible, susceptible dose dependent, and resistant) were 98.8%, 0.5%, and 0.7% and 99.2%, 0.2%, and 0.6% for fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Candida of 3 species exhibited decreased susceptibility to fluconazole (<90% S) in the order of that seen with the resistant (R) species: C. krusei, C. guilliermondii, and C. glabrata. Emerging resistance to fluconazole or voriconazole was documented among isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichosporon spp., and Rhodotorula spp.


CONCLUSIONS
The species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of yeasts may differ according to specimen type, testing method, hospital, and geographic region. Therefore, further large-scaled, long-term surveillance studies are needed to isolate yeasts and to confirm the species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of yeast isolates from clinical specimens in Korea.
Lee
Mi Kyung
MK
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cpworld@cau.ac.kr
Yong
Dongeun
D
Kim
Myungsook
M
Kim
Mi Na
MN
Lee
Kyungwon
K
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D065819:Voriconazole; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D015725:Fluconazole; D065819:Voriconazole