Prevalence of Candida in Diarrhoeal Stools

Context: Candida species inhabit the gut as normal flora and can assume a pathogenic role when host defenses falter. Aims: To determine the percentage isolation of Candida in diarrhoeal stools, to speciate them and to identify the presence of predisposing factors leading to their proliferation in the gut. Methods and Material: Microscopic and cultural evaluation of Candida in faeces of patients with diarrhoea. Statistical analysis used: Pearson Chi-Square: P values Results: Candida species were isolated from 9.7% stools of diarrhoea cases, the predominant species being C. albicans (46.7%). Microscopic correlation showed presence of pseudohyphae in 14 out of 15 (93.3%) culture positive stools. Candida was isolated in all age groups and with no predilection for any gender. A recent history of antibiotic usage was elicited in 60% of patients yielding Candida from stool. Conclusions: It is probable that Candida could have been responsible for diarrhoea in patients, especially those on antibiotics, in the present study, substantiated by the presence of pseudohyphae on microscopy, which is an indirect evidence of invasion.