title: In vitro susceptibility and molecular characterization of Candida spp. from candidemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida species are the main cause of hospital acquired fungal bloodstream infections. The main risk factors for candidemia include parenteral nutrition, long-term intensive care, neutropenia, diabetes, abdominal surgery and the use of central venous catheters. The antifungal drugs used to treat candidemia are mainly the echinocandins, however some isolates may be resistant to these drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work aims to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility patterns of various Candida species isolated from blood samples and provide their identification by molecular characterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method. The sequencing of the ITS and D1/D2 regions of rDNA was used for molecular characterization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four of the 80 isolates were susceptible to anidulafungin, 5 were intermediate, and 1 was resistant. For micafungin 67 were susceptible, 8 were intermediate and 5 were resistant. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. Lastly, 65 isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, 8 were dose-dependent and 4 were resistant. The molecular identification corroborated the phenotypic data in 91.3% of the isolates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antifungal susceptibility data has an important role in the treatment of candidemia episodes. It was also concluded that the molecular analysis of isolates provides an accurate identification and identifies genetic variability within Candida species isolated from patients with candidemia.
authors: Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, LabMicro - Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Patricia Fernanda
authors: PF
authors: Herkert
authors: Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, LabMicro - Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Renata Rodrigues
authors: RR
authors: Gomes
authors: Support and Diagnosis Unit, Mycology Laboratory, Hospital of Clinics, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Marisol Dominguez
authors: MD
authors: Muro
authors: Support and Diagnosis Unit, Mycology Laboratory, Hospital of Clinics, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Rosangela Lameira
authors: RL
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, LabMicro - Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Gheniffer
authors: G
authors: Fornari
authors: Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, LabMicro - Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Fellowship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil.
authors: Vânia Aparecida
authors: VA
authors: Vicente
authors: Postgraduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Biological Sciences, Department of Basic Pathology, LabMicro - Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: queiroz.telles@uol.com.br.
authors: Flávio
authors: F
authors: Queiroz-Telles
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058387:Candidemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Antifungals; Antifúngicos; Candida; In vitro susceptibility; Molecular sequencing; Secuenciación molecular; Sensibilidad in vitro