title: Candiduria: prevalence and trends in antifungal susceptibility in a tertiary care hospital of mangalore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of Candida has been on rise worldwide. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) as a result of Candida species are becoming, common in hospitalised patients. Clinicians face dilemma in differentiating colonization from true candiduria. The species identification of Candida is important, as non albicans Candida species are increasing in number and more resistant to antifungal drugs. The aim of the study was to find out the frequency of Candida among uropathogens, their speciation and to determine the susceptibilities to antifungal drugs of Candida species isolated from candiduria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2900 urine samples were analysed in a tertiary care hospital. Candida species isolated from urine samples were subjected to speciation using CHROM agar and standard yeast identification protocol. Antifungal susceptibility testing for fluconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine, amphotericin B was carried out using VITEK-2 compact system of Biomerieux.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 66(2.27%) Candida species were isolated from 2900 urine samples. Among them non albicans Candida species were predominant (69.7%) compared to Candida albicans (30.3%). The Candida isolated were more susceptible to amphotericin B (91%) and flucytosine (82%) compared to voriconazole (72.72%) and fluconazole (66.66%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study reiterates the prevalence of Candida species among UTIs and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. Prevalence of non albicans Candida was more than Candida albicans. Non albicans Candida species are more resistant to antifungal drugs compared to C.albicans. Therefore, the species identification of Candida isolates along with their antifungal susceptibility pattern can help the clinicians in better treating the patients with candiduria.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Yashavanth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: R
authors.affiliation: Microbiologist, Columbia Asia, Referral Hospital , Bangalore, India .
authors.forename: Shiju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: M P
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: U A
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of Microbiology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: R
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: K B
keywords: Antifungal susceptibility testing; Candiduria; Non albicans Candida