Species Distribution, Virulence Factors, and Antifungal Susceptibility Among Candida parapsilosis Complex Isolates Recovered from Clinical Specimens

Mass spectrometry by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) was used to identify and differentiate the pattern of susceptibility of clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis complex. 17 C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 2 C. orthopsilosis, and 1 C. metapsilosis strains were obtained from blood cultures, and three different inocula (103, 105, and 107 CFU/mL) were evaluated against three echinocandins at concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 16 µg/mL after incubation of 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. Drug-free control was used. The spectra obtained at these concentrations were applied to generate composite correlation index (CCI) matrices for each yeast individually. After cross correlations and autocorrelations of each spectra with null (zero) and maximal (16) concentrations, the CCI was used as separation parameter among spectra. Incubation time and inoculum were critical factors to reach higher precision and reliability of this trial. With an incubation time of 3 h and inoculum of 107 CFU/mL, it was possible to determine the breakpoint of the clinical yeasts by MALDI-TOF that presented high agreement with the clinical laboratory standard institute (CLSI) reference method. Herein, we show that mass spectrometry using the MALDI-TOF technique is powerful when it exploits antifungal susceptibility testing assays.

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Candida parapsilosis ( sensu lato ) isolated from hospitals located in the Southeast of Brazil: Species distribution, antifungal susceptibility and virulence attributes

International Journal of Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijmm.2015.08.003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 305 (8) ◽

pp. 848-859 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Mariangela Ziccardi ◽

Lucieri O.P. Souza ◽

Rafael M. Gandra ◽

Anna Clara M. Galdino ◽

Andréa R.S. Baptista ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Distribution ◽

Candida Parapsilosis ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility

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Virulence Factors and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of C. tropicalis Isolated from Various Clinical Specimens in Alexandria, Egypt

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7050351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 351

Author(s):

Mohammed A. El-Kholy ◽

Ghada F. Helaly ◽

Ebtisam F. El Ghazzawi ◽

Gamal El-Sawaf ◽

Sherine M. Shawky

Keyword(s):

Virulence Factors ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Icu Patients ◽

Clinical Specimens ◽

High Incidence ◽

Invasive Infections ◽

Vitek 2 ◽

Urinary Isolates

Background: The incidence of candidiasis caused by non-albicans Candida (NAC) species is increasing. Candida tropicalis has emerged as one of the most important NAC species. This study aims to examine the antifungal susceptibility profile and some virulence factors of C. tropicalis isolated from various clinical specimens. Methods: A total of 71 C. tropicalis isolates from various clinical specimens (69.01%, 18.31%, 9.86%, and 2.82% of isolates were collected from urine, respiratory samples, blood, and skin and soft tissue infections, respectively) from ICU patients in Alexandria, Egypt. The isolates were identified at species level by CHROMagar Candida and VITEK 2 compact system. Furthermore, the antifungal susceptibility was determined using the VITEK 2 system AST-YS07 card containing different antifungals. Hemolysin, phospholipase, and proteinase activity and biofilm formation were also tested as virulence factors. Results: Only 30 isolates (42.25%) were non-susceptible (MIC ≥ 4 µg/mL) to fluconazole, of which 28 isolates showed non-susceptibility (MIC ≥ 0.25 µg/mL) to voriconazole. All isolates showed both hemolysin and proteinase activities, while only 9 isolates (12.68%) showed phospholipase production and 70 isolates (98.59%) demonstrated biofilm formation. Strong biofilm production was observed among the blood culture isolates (85.71%), followed by the respiratory and urinary isolates (61.54% and 46.94%, respectively). Conclusions: This study sought to provide useful data on the antifungal susceptibility of C. tropicalis isolates from ICU patients suffering from invasive infections with an increased trend towards elevated MICs levels of both fluconazole and voriconazole. Due to the high incidence of systemic candidiasis and antifungal resistance, C. tropicalis is emerging as a serious root of infections. Therefore, early and accurate identification of Candida species along with susceptibility testing is of utmost importance.

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Non-albicans CandidaInfection: An Emerging Threat

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1155/2014/615958 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Sachin C. Deorukhkar ◽

Santosh Saini ◽

Stephen Mathew

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Virulence Factors ◽

High Resistance ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Antifungal Agents ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Clinical Specimen ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Clinical Specimens ◽

The Past

The very nature of infectious diseases has undergone profound changes in the past few decades. Fungi once considered as nonpathogenic or less virulent are now recognized as a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised and severely ill patients.Candidaspp. are among the most common fungal pathogens.Candida albicanswas the predominant cause of candidiasis. However, a shift toward non-albicans Candidaspecies has been recently observed. These non-albicans Candidaspecies demonstrate reduced susceptibility to commonly used antifungal drugs. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of non-albicans Candidaspp. amongCandidaisolates from various clinical specimens and analysed their virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profile. A total of 523Candidaspp. were isolated from various clinical specimens. Non-albicans Candidaspecies were the predominant pathogens isolated. Non-albicans Candidaspecies also demonstrated the production of virulence factors once attributed toCandida albicans. Non-albicans Candidademonstrated high resistance to azole group of antifungal agents. Therefore, it can be concluded that non-albicans Candidaspecies have emerged as an important cause of infections. Their isolation from clinical specimen can no longer be ignored as a nonpathogenic isolate nor can it be dismissed as a contaminant.

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