title: Distribution of Candida species among HIV-positive patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis in Accra, Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a common occurrence in the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. Changes in the clinical severity of oropharyngeal candidiasis and type of Candida species profile may be a reflection of immunological changes in patients. The aim of this study was to undertake a baseline Candida species identification for future reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral swabs of 267 HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis were cultured and Candida species were identified by API 32 C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 201 (75.3%) Candida species and 10 (3.7%) non candida fungi were identified. Twenty different Candida species were isolated. Candida albicans was the most prevalent species (68.5%) followed by C. tropicalis (7.4%), C. krusei (6.4%), C. parapsilosis (3.0%) and C. sake (2.5%). Other species ranged from 0.5% to 1.5%. Positive culture was independent of whether patients were on anti-retroviral therapy or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of all Candida isolates, 68.5% were identified as C. albicans. Since other uncommon species were also isolated, it may be necessary in this group of patients to identify Candida species causing severe infections.
authors: University of Ghana Dental School, Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. tkwamin@yahoo.com
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Kwamin
authors: Nii Otu
authors: NO
authors: Nartey
authors: Francis S
authors: FS
authors: Codjoe
authors: Mercy J
authors: MJ
authors: Newman
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media