Molecular Identification and Drug Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated from the Skin of Patients with Acne Clinical Sings

Introduction: Acne is a pathological disorder and a chronic inflammation in the sebaceous follicles, and one of the most popular dermatology damages that has affected millions of people worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify Candida species in patients with acne as well as determine the drug susceptibility of these species.   Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 clinical specimens were taken from the skin of patients suspected of acne by the sterile swab. Subsequently, the specimens were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar containing chloramphenicol. The plates were incubated for 48 h at 37˚C. The suspected colonies were investigated through microscopic examination and subsequent passages were evaluated according to standard operating procedures and specification of the type of colony color on CHROMagar for the isolation of the yeast. The sequencing method was utilized (ITS2, ITS4) to approve C.species. In addition, the susceptibility testing was performed to assess drug-resistant isolates C. species based on the clinical and laboratory standards institute method. Findings: In total, 11 C. species were identified and isolated that include 8 C.parapsilosis (72.73%), 1 C.krusei (12.5%), 1 C.lusitaniae (12.5%), 1 C.kefir (12.5%), and a Trichosporon asahi. According to the investigation of C. parapsilosis isolates susceptibility to various concentrations of the anti-fungal agents to isolates Cp1and Cp8,  the isolated Cp5 with MIC 50 was equal to 32,0.5,0.25 and with MIC 90 of <64, <1, <0.5 μg/ml were resistant to fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole, respectively. Apart from the isolation of Cp1 and Cp8, which had relative resistance, almost all other species of C. parapsilosis isolates were susceptible to these drugs.   Discussion & Conclusions: Several studies showed that bacterial agents are involved in causing acne in most cases. According to the results of this study, it can be suggested that the yeast C. species can be introduced as an agent in the etiology of this disease. C. species isolates can also be resistant to antifungal drugs and this could be one of the causes of the treatment failures.