title: Susceptibility of clinical Candida species isolates to antifungal agents by E-test, Southern Iran: A five year study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, especially by Candida species, has increased in recent years. This study was designed to identify Candida species and determine antifungal susceptibility patterns of 595 yeast strains isolated from various clinical specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identification of the isolates were determined by the API 20 C AUX kit and antifungal susceptibilities of the species to fluconazole, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and caspofungin were determined by the agar-based E-test method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida albicans (48%) was the most frequently isolated species, followed by Candida kruzei (16.1%), Candida glabrata (13.5%), Candida kefyr (7.4%), Candida parapsilosis (4.8%), Candida tropicalis (1.7%) and other species (8.5%). Resistance varies depending on the species and the respective antifungal agents. Comparing the MIC90 for all the strains, the lower MIC90 was observed for caspofungin (0.5 µg/ml). The MIC90 for all Candida species were 64 µg/ml for fluconazole, 0.75 µg/ml for amphotericin B, 4 µg/ml for ketoconazole, 4 µg/ml for itraconazole, and 2 µg/ml for voriconazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Species definition and determination of antifungal susceptibility patterns are advised for the proper management and treatment of patients at risk for systemic candidiasis. Resistance to antifungal agents is an alarming sign for the emerging common nosocomial fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Alborzi Microbiology Research Center, Mycology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Badiee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alborzi