ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF INTRAVENOUS CATHETER TIPS AND BLOOD DERIVED CANDIDA SPECIES BY DISC DIFFUSION METHOD

Background: Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection caused by various species of Candida with Candida albicans as representative species. The infection may be acute or chronic, superficial or deep, and its clinical spectrum is wide. The phenomenon of antifungal drug resistance is not restricted to pathogenic fungi, it also involves the commensal microbiota of humans. There is worldwide concern about the increase of drug resistant fungi. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati from April 2012 to April 2013. A total of 50 intravenous catheter tips and blood samples were processed and the isolates were identified by using standard microbiological techniques and antifungal sensitivity was determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: In the present study, three types of anti fungal drugs were used, which are amphotericin B, Fluconazole and Voriconazole. Among the collected 50 samples, 49(98%) were sensitive, 1(2%) sample is mild sensitive, whereas (0%) zero samples were resistant to Voriconazole. Whereas, 36(72%) were sensitive, 7(14%) were mild sensitive, 7(14%)were resistant to Fluconazole.Whereas,40(80%)samples were sensitive and 10(20%)samples were resistant to Amphotericin-B. Most of the samples were sensitive to voriconazole than fluconazole and Amphotericin-B. Quality control limits for Anti fungal Agent is as per CLSI guidelines. Conclusion: Our study recommends further investigations on fungal resistance against various new generation triazoles using various susceptibility methods, rational use of antifungal and antibiotic drugs to prevent emerging resistance and development of new drugs with different mechanisms of action from those of the azoles.