Publication: Characterization of candida species isolated from cases of lower respiratory tract infection
Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objectives: (1) To identify and characterize the Candida species isolates from lower respiratory tract infection.
(2) to determine the rate of isolation of Candida species from sputum samples.
Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara,
Nepal from June 2002 to January 2003. A total of 462 sputum samples were collected from patients suspected lower
respiratory tract infection. The samples were processed as Gram staining to find out the suitability of the specimen,
cultured on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) and also on blood agar and chocolate agar to identify the potential
lower respiratory tract pathogens. For the identification of Candida, sputum samples were processed for Gram stain,
culture, germ tube test, production of chlamydospore, sugar fermentation and assimilation test. For the identification
of bacteria, Gram stain, culture, and biochemical tests were performed by standardized procedure.
Result: Out of 462 samples, 246 (53.24%) samples grew potential pathogens of lower respiratory tract. Among
them Haemophilus influenzae 61(24.79%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae 57 (23.17%) were the predominant
bacterial pathogens. Candida species were isolated from 30 samples (12.2%). The majority of Candida species
amongst the Candida isolates were Candida albicans 21(70%) followed by Candida tropicalis 4(13.33%). Candida
krusei 3(10%), Candida parapsilosis 1(3.33%) and Candida stellatoidea 1(3.33%). The highest rate of isolation of
Candida was between the age of 71 and 80.
Conclusion: Candida isolation from sputum samples is important as found in the present study in which Candida
species were the third most common pathogen isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infection.
Key words: Candida albicans, Pulmonary candidiasis, Nepal
Description
Jha BK 1, Dey S2, Tamang MD 3, Joshy ME4, Shivananda PG 5, Brahmadatan KN 6
1
Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences(MCOMS), Pokhara, 2 Assoc.
Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, 3Lecturer, Dept. of Microbiology,
Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS), 4Asst.Professor, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara,
5Professor & Dean Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences,6 Professor, Department of Microbiology,
Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.