Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species causing candidaemia in a Thai university hospital during year 2006-2010

Results From a total of 887 isolates, Candida albicans remains a major pathogen accounted for 50.3%, followed by C. tropicalis(27.4%), C. parapsilosis (12.5%), C.guilliermondii (6%), C. glabrata (1.8%), C. krusei (0.23%), C. rugosa (0.23%), and unidentified species(1.6%). From a total of 103 C. albicans, amphotericin B MIC ranged from 0.016-1ug/ml whereas fluconazole MIC ranged were between 0.023 to > 256ug/ml. Other species tested were C. tropicalis (73 strains) which yielded MIC range of 0.19-2ug/ml for amphotericin B and 0.5>256 ug/ml for fluconazole. 34 strains of C. parapsilosis gave amphotericin B ranged from 0.023-16ug/ml and 0.094->256 for fluconazole. Conclusion C. albicans remains the most prevalence Candida species causing candidaemia followed by C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. guilliermondii. Those non-albicans Candida seemed to express decrease susceptibility to both major antifungal agents like amphotericin B and fluconazole whereas a small number of C. albicans gave high MIC to fluconazole.