[Hemolysis produced by Candida tropicalis isolates from clinical samples].

INTRODUCTION Yeasts belonging to the genus Candida are responsible for the majority of fungal infections in humans. Candida tropicalis has been one of most commonly isolated non-albicans species. To analyze in vitro hemolysis promoted by clinical isolates of C. tropicalis obtained from blood and other clinical samples from hospitalized patients at the University Hospital of Londrina State University, Paraná, Brazil. METHODS The hemolysis promoted by 28 clinical isolates of C. tropicalis was evaluated, and the isolates were grouped into classes according to the hemolysis levels. RESULTS The majority of the blood isolates showed weak hemolysis (+), while the classes of strong hemolysis (+++) and very strong hemolysis (++++) predominated among isolates from other clinical samples such as urine, nail lesions and tracheal secretions. However, no statistical differences were detected (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Isolates of C. tropicalis obtained from different clinical samples showed a capacity to promote in vitro hemolysis.