title: Caspofungin MIC Distribution amongst Commonly IsolatedCandidaSpecies in a Tertiary Care Centre - An Indian Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergence ofCandidaspecies resistant to Amphotericin B and triazole has led to use of echinocandins, mostly caspofungin in the management of invasive candidiasis. There are some published reports of caspofungin resistance inCandidaspecies yet no studies on caspofungin susceptibility pattern ofCandidaspecies exist in Indian setup.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To carry out the antifungal susceptibility ofCandidaisolates against caspofungin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study at a tertiary care teaching hospital, 60 preservedCandidaisolates from inpatients of invasive candidiasis obtained over a period of 6 months from January 2015 to June 2015 were subjected to antifungal susceptibility to caspofungin and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) ofCandidaspecies to caspofungin were determined by Epsilometer test (E-test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ThirtyCandida albicansand 30 NonalbicansCandidamainlyCandida glabrata,Candida parapsilosisandCandida tropicaliswere tested for caspofungin susceptibitity by E-test. Caspofungin resistance was detected in 6.67%Candidaalbicans isolates. Caspofungin resistance was not observed inCandida parapsilosis,Candida glabrataandCandida tropicalis. This shows that caspofungin resistance is still rare. Further elaborate studies with clinical correlation data are needed to detect prevalence of caspofungin resistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergence of resistance in our study warrants need of elaborate studies with clinical correlation data to detect prevalence of resistance to caspofungin. E-test method proved to be an easy and simple technique for testing susceptibility of Candida to caspofungin.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Shashir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanjare
authors.affiliation: Speciality Medical Officer, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Rajarshi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehta
keywords: Anti-fungal susceptibility; E-test; Fluconazole