In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated From
In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated From
In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated From
S19
Original article
Abstract
Introduction and objective: Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a relatively common mycotic
infection in cancer patients. In vitro susceptibility of oropharyngeal Candida isolates can be
useful in selecting the appropriate treatment for the best therapeutic outcome. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of Candida species against
antifungal agents.
Material and methods: In vitro activities of four antifungals were detected in 69 Candida
isolates recovered from cancer patients in four university hospitals using the microdilution
method described in the CLSI M27-A3 guideline.
Result: Only 12(17.4%) of Candida isolate were resistant to antifungal agents. Three
isolates (4.4% included C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. pelliculosa) were
resistant to amphotericin B, 5(7.2% included two C. albicans, two C. glabrata, and one C.
kefyr) were itraconazole resistant. Two (2.9% include one C. albicans and one C. glabrata)
were fluconazole resistant. Caspofungin resistance was detected in two C. infanticola strains
which were reported as a clinical isolate for the first time. All Candida isolates (n=69) taken
together gave minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) value for amphotericin B,
fluconazole, itraconazole and caspofungin of 1, 0.25, 32 and 0.25g/ml, respectively. In
total, 18.7% of C. glabrata and 7.8% of C. albicans isolates were fully resistant to both
itraconazole and fluconazole.
Conclusion: Caspofungin had activity against oropharyngeal non- albicans Candida species
isolates, particularly against those with reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B,
fluconazole and itraconazole.
Keywords: Antifungals; In vitro susceptibility; Candida species; Oropharyngeal candidiasis
parapsilosis (ATCC 22019) and C. krusei We found the widest range and the highest
(ATCC 6258) were within the expected MICs for fluconazole (range 0.063-64). The
ranges. Overall, 66(95.7%) of isolates were isolates of C. albicans and C. glabrata had
susceptible to amphotericin B (MIC1g/ high MICs for fluconazole. Caspofungin
ml). Three isolates (4.3% included C. and itraconazole demonstrated better in
albicans, C. glabrata, C. pelliculosa) were vitro activity than amphotericin B with
resistant to amphotericin B (MIC>1g /ml). MIC90 0.25g/ml, compared to 1g/ml for
Thirty three (47.8%) of the isolates were all Candida isolates. In our study, some rare
susceptible to itraconazole (MIC0.125g/ species that belong to C. pelliculosa, C.
ml), 31(44.9%) were susceptible dose krusei, C. orthopsilosis, C. parapsilosis, C.
dependent and 5(7.2%) were itraconazole kefyr, C. terebra, and C. Infanticola were
resistant (MIC1g /ml). Fifty four (78.2%) identified at the basis of the sequence
of the isolates were susceptible to analysis.
fluconazole (MIC8g/ml), 13(18.4%)
were susceptible dose dependent and Discussion
2(2.9%) were fluconazole resistant A variety of antifungal agents are now
(MIC64g/ ml). available for the treatment of oropharyngeal
All Candida isolates (n=69) taken candidiasis infections. Amphotericin B is
together gave MIC90 value for amphotericin used in the treatment of superficial and
B, fluconazole, itraconazole and systemic infections of hospitalized
caspofungin of 1, 32, 0. 25, and 0.25g/ml, individuals [17]. This study demonstrated
respectively. Only 12(17.4%) of Candida that C. albicans was the predominant
isolates (four of C. albicans, four of C. species of oropharyngeal candidiasis in
glabrata, one of C. pelliculosa, one of C. patients with cancer. Although C. albicans
kefyr and two of C. infanticola) were remain the most common pathogen in
resistant to antifungal agents. Only 2(2.9%) oropharyngeal candidiasis, non- albicans
and 3(4.3%) of the Candida isolates were species are increasingly associated with
resistant to caspofungin and amphotericin invasive candidiasis [18]. Although triazole
B, respectively. agents appear to be highly effective
In total, three of 16 C. glabrata isolates initially, the increase of resistance to them
(18.7%) and three of 38 C. albicans isolates has been reported [17,19].
(7.8%) were fully resistant to both Decreasing susceptibility to the first
itraconazole and fluconazole. However, generation azoles (fluconazole and
none of the C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C itraconazole) due to the increasing
.krusei, C. orthopsilosis and C. terebra was incidence of colonization and infection with
resistant to these four antifungals. Overall, non- albicans Candida species, concerns
31(45%) of isolates were non-albicans have risen for newer antifungal drug. In the
Candida species which eight of them present study, overall resistance of all
(25.8%) were resistant and 19 of them Candida isolates to fluconazole was 2.9%,
(61.2%) were susceptible dose dependent to which is similar to that reported by other
antifungals. For all together non-albicans previous studies [20, 21]. The reason for the
Candida species (n=31) MIC90 values for low fluconazole resistance could be
amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole explained by the fact that fluconazole was
and caspofungin of 1, 16, 0.5 and not prescribed to the most cancer patients as
0.125g/ml, respectively (not shown in a standard care in Iran.
table 1).
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz,
Iran, Tel: +98611 3330074; Fax: +98611 3332036; URL: http://jjm.ajums.ac.ir; E-mail: editorial office: [email protected]
JJM. (2011); 4(Supplement 1): S19-S26.
Tahereh Shokohi, et al. S23
In the present study, 5.4% of Candida species which was isolated from patients
albicans were resistant to itraconazole with allergic diseases [28]. C. orthopsilosis
which is accordant with those investigators isolates which are phenotypically similar to
which reported itraconazole resistance 4% C. parapsilosis has recently been
[22] and 7% [23] in advanced cancer and distinguished by molecular methods [29-
immunocompromised patients, respectively. 31]. This rare strain may be responsible for
In the present study 45% of isolates were infection and colonization in humans. In our
non-albicans Candida species which 19.4% study, in accordance with Tavanti et al. [29]
of them were resistant to amphotericin B, C. orthopsilosis isolate was found used to
itraconazole and fluconazole. Also in this be susceptible to all antifungals.
study 18.7% C. glabrata isolates were fully This report further highlights the
resistant to both itraconazole and presence of emerging pathogens that could
fluconazole. Almost similar results were not be identified reliably and support the
observed by Gonzales et al. [24] who requirement for careful mycological
showed 31.3% of C. glabrata bloodstream identification at the species level of
isolates were resistant to fluconazole, Candida isolates recovered from cancer
43.3% were resistant to itraconazole. patients, together with regular in vitro
Badiee et al. [25] also noted resistance to susceptibility testing to detect resistance to
fluconazole and itraconazole in some the azoles. These local surveillance studies
Candida species isolates from mucosal sites can help clinicians make treatment decision.
of HIV-positive patients in Shiraz, Iran. The data presented in this paper indicate
Caspofungin showed substantial that caspofungin and itraconazole are more
activity against isolates demonstrated in effective than either amphotericin B or
vitro resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole against all non- albicans
and amphotericin B. These results suggest Candida species isolated from the
that caspofungin activity against oropharynx of patients with cancer. Thus, in
oropharyngeal Candida isolates, such unresponsive case, caspofungin can be
particularly against those with reduced an alternative regime for managing
susceptibility to fluconazole and oropharyngeal candidiasis.
itraconazole. The results are similar to that
reported by Pfaller et al. [26] who Conclusion
compared caspofungin with fluconazole and These results suggest that caspofungin has
itraconazole against clinical isolates of activity against oropharyngeal non-
Candida spp., including fluconazole- albicans Candida species isolates,
resistant isolates. They also showed that particularly against those with reduced
caspofungin was as active as or more potent susceptibility to amphotericin B,
than either fluconazole or itraconazole fluconazole and itraconazole.
against all Candida spp. with the exception
of C. guilliermondii and C. famata. In our Acknowledgment
study there were no such Candida species We are grateful to the Vice-Chancellor of
between our isolates, but we demonstrated Research of Mazandaran University of
that caspofungin had no activity against C. Medical Sciences for financial support. We
infanticola. would like also thank Dr. Hamid Badali and
Candida infanticola is a rare species Dr. Kamyar Zomorodian for critical
that recently was isolated [27] from the ear assistance.
of an infant in Germany. C. terebra is a rare
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz,
Iran, Tel: +98611 3330074; Fax: +98611 3332036; URL: http://jjm.ajums.ac.ir; E-mail: editorial office: [email protected]
JJM. (2011); 4(Supplement 1): S19-S26.
Susceptibility of Candida antifungal agents S24
Table 1: The comparative In vitro susceptibilities of the Candida isolate from cancer patients to the
antifungal agents
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz,
Iran, Tel: +98611 3330074; Fax: +98611 3332036; URL: http://jjm.ajums.ac.ir; E-mail: editorial office: [email protected]
JJM. (2011); 4(Supplement 1): S19-S26.
Tahereh Shokohi, et al. S25
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz,
Iran, Tel: +98611 3330074; Fax: +98611 3332036; URL: http://jjm.ajums.ac.ir; E-mail: editorial office: [email protected]
JJM. (2011); 4(Supplement 1): S19-S26.