Fungal profile and antifungal susceptibility pattern of candidiasis in esophageal cancer patients.

AIM: This study was carried out to determine the fungal profile and antifungal susceptibility pattern in the brushing samples of candidiasis in patients with carcinoma of esophagus.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study was carried out in the Departments of Microbiology and Surgical Oncology of a regional cancer center from January 2017 to December 2017. Samples were collected under all aseptic precaution and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines 2017 was followed for antifungal susceptibility testing.

RESULTS

A total of 132 endoscopy brushing samples were collected from histological proven esophageal cancer patients and processed for fungal culture. Of which, 75 (56.81%) samples showed culture positivity and were recruited. Candida albicans in 40 (53.33%), Candida krusei in 25 (33.33%), Candida tropicalis in 7 (9.33%), and Candida glabrata in 3 (4%) patients were seen. Among the 40 C. albicans isolates, all were sensitive to caspofungin - 40 (100%), 34 (85%) showed sensitivity to fluconazole, and 32 (80%) showed sensitivity to flucytosine. C. krusei and C. tropicalis showed 100% sensitivity to caspofungin, and C. glabrata isolates showed 100% resistance to caspofungin and 80% resistance to Amphotericin B.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed the emergence of multidrug-resistant, nonalbicans Candida isolates in cancer esophagus patients with candidiasis in northeast India.