Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Candida albicans and Non Candida albicans Species Isolates at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a widespread fungus that affects women of all ages. After bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most prevalent cause of vaginitis, affecting 40% of women with vaginal discharge. Candida is a fungus that is one of the most common opportunistic fungi in humans. The samples were processed using standard Candida isolation techniques. Candida species were identified using germ tube tests and Candida agar media. On Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) supplemented with 2 percent glucose and 0.5 g/ ml methylene blue dye, the disc diffusion method was employed to investigate antifungal sensitivity. Candida albicans was responsible for 42 (36.3%) of the 350 Candida isolates, followed by Candida glabrata (24.1%), Candida tropicalis (22.5%), Candida krusei (12.3%), and Candida parapsilosis (12.3%). (9.7 percent). With a sensitivity pattern of 106/116, amphotericin Bis is the most effective antifungal medication against Candida isolates (91.3 percent). The resistance to ketoconazole, on the other hand, was the highest (20.6 percent). In light of the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance to fungal medicines, the current study suggests that species-level identification of Candida isolates should be encouraged.