Genotyping and Antifungal Vulnerability of Candida albicans Isolated from Cancer Patients in Dewaniyeh Governorate.

Abstract

Background: Candida infections are one of the major causes of morbidity in cancer patients.
Aim: To determine the genotype and antifungal susceptibility of C. albicans isolated from cancer patients and compared with that from healthy individuals.
Materials and methods: Oral swabs collected from cancer patients and healthy subjects were screened for the occurrence of C. albicans. Isolates were identified to species level by the conventional mycological methods. Genotypes were determined with use of 25S rDNA PCR analysis. Susceptibility testing was performed using HiCombo MIC technique.
Results: Phenotypic examination showed that oral C. albicans was detected in 90% of cancer patients and 50% of healthy controls. PCR shows that the isolates of A, B, C and T genotypes, among which genotype A C. albicans was the predominant genotype. Genotype A C. albicans recognized the entirely isolates in healthy group. Isolates were most sensitive to amphotericin B. Occurrence of resistance to
amphotericin B was the lowest followed by itraconazole. However, the isolates demonstrated a high rate of resistance to ketoconazole and fluconazole.
Conclusion: Based on these results, 25S rDNA have been shown to be a useful criterion for distinguishing among various isolates of C. albicans. Amphotericin B is effective antifungal agents that can be used against isolates.