doiSerbia

Susceptibility to antifungal agents of Candida spp. from blood and feces collected in Novi Sad in 3-year period (2008-2010)

Jelesić Zora Z. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Medić Deana D. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Mihajlović-Ukropina Mira M. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Jevtić Marija (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Gusman Vera P. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Radosavljević Biljana J. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Milosavljević Biljana T. (Institut za javno zdravlje Vojvodine, Novi Sad)

Candidemia is an important emerging nosocomial infection in patients with risk factors. Candida species from nonsterile sites can give insight into the characteristics of strains that may cause invasive disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate antifungal susceptibility of Candida blood and fecal isolates in Novi Sad, Vojvodina. During a 3-year period (2008 to 2010), 424 isolates of Candida spp. were collected, 30 bloodstream isolates and 394 strains from fecal samples. In vitro susceptibility of these isolates to five antifungal agents was established using commercial ATB FUNGUS 3 (Bio-Mérieux). Predominant species was Candida albicans (6 isolates from blood and 269 from feces). Resistance to one or more antifungal agents was less common in Candida albicans (3.63%) than in other species (24.83%). Resistance to itraconazole was the most commonly found in both groups of isolates, 9.64% strains from feces and 20% from blood samples. Twelve isolates were multiply resistant, usually to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole. Resistance to amphotericine B was extremely rare. Although resistance to antimycotics of Candida spp. is rare at present, continued surveillance of antifungal susceptibility is necessary in order to monitor trends, and to choose the right empiric therapy.

Keywords: antifungal susceptibility, candidemia, Candida spp.