title: Candida species isolated from different body sites and their antifungal susceptibility pattern: Cross-analysis of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms.
abstract: Candida species are regular commensal in humans, but-especially in immunocompromised patients-they represent opportunistic pathogens giving rise to systemic infection. The aim of the present work was to isolate and characterize for their antifungal profile Candida species from different body sites and to analyze the biofilms produced by C. albicans and C. glabrata isolates. Eighty-one strains of Candida species from 77 patients were identified. Epidemiological study showed that the most isolated species were C. albicans (44), C. glabrata (13) and C. parapsilosis (13) mainly from Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medicine, Neonatology and Oncology Divisions, the majority of the biological samples were swabs (44) and blood cultures (16). The analysis of the biofilm formation was performed at 24 and 48-hours comparing resistant and susceptible strains of C. albicans to resistant and susceptible strains of C. glabrata. Candida albicans has a greater ability to form biofilm compared to C. glabrata, both in the susceptible and resistant strains reaching maturity after 24 hours with a complex structure composed of blastospores, pseudohyphae, and hyphae embedded in a matrix. On the contrary, C. glabrata biofilm was composed exclusively of blastospores that in the resistant strain, after 24 hours, were organized in a compact multilayer different to the discontinuous structure observed in the susceptible analyzed strains. In conclusion, the increasing of the incidence of Candida species infection together with their emerging drug resistance also related to the biofilm forming capability underline the need to monitor their distribution and susceptibility patterns for improving the surveillance and for a correct management of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacy and Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio," Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacy and Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio," Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Campli
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital, Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fazii
authors.affiliation: Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Tonino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Traini
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacy and Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio," Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacy and Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio," Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Candida albicans; Candida glabrata, antifungal susceptibility pattern; biofilm; candidiasis; opportunistic pathogens