PREVALENCE OF CANDIDA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM POSITIVE BLOOD CULTURE IN NICU PATIENTS AND ITSANTI-FUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN

Abstract

Introduction-

Recent population-based surveillance studies have shown an increasing incidence of invasive candidiasis in the neonatal ICU during the past decade.Of all blood stream infections (BSI), candidaemia poses the greatest threat with a high fatality rate among neonates. There has been an increase in the number of reports of non-C. albicans species and antifungal resistance has progressively emerge.

Aim- 

To isolate and identify Candida species from NICU patients and  determine the antifungal drugs susceptibility pattern of Candida species.

Methodology-

Prospective Study on 270 NICU at GMC Kota, Rajasthan over a period of 18 months from December 2022 to June 2024. During this period blood samples were collected into peadiatric Bactec Blood culture bottles. Choosing samples from appropriate patient was done on the basis of inclusion criteria

Result-

The prevalence of candidemia is 11.85% as out of 270 patients 32 have candidemia. Out of 32 Candida isolates, 15 were identified as C. tropicalis, 10 as C. albicans, 3 as C. parapsilosis, 3 as C. glabrata and 1 as C. krusei.  Out of 32 Candida isolates, all (100%) were sensitive to amphotericin B followed by 93.8% were sensitive to nystatin, 68.8% to clotrimazole, 59.4% to itraconazole and 40.6% Candida spp. were sensitive to fluconazole. The most common pre-disposing factor was LBW (in 8.1% ),  followed by Length of stay in ICU≥ 7 Days (in 4.1% cases) and Preterm Neonate (in 4.1% cases). The other Pre-disposing condition seen in NICU for candidemia were neonate of Diabetic Mother(in 1.5%) , neonate on Prolong broad spectrum Antibiotics(in 1.5%), neonate on Prolonged Steroid.

Conclusion-

The worldwide progressive shift towards non-albicans candidemia necessitates regular surveillance and monitoring of laboratory data.