Isolation, identification and antifungal susceptibility testing of candida species from dermatologic specimens in Duhok Province

Abstract EN

Candida species.

is a member of the mucous membrane of the normal flora, gastrointestinal tract and skin.

They are endogenous opportunistic pathogens that cause secondary infections with underlying immunocompromised condition.

Candidiasis is a common fungal infection in human.

This study was aimed to isolation and identification of Candida using germ tube, chlamydospore formation, and chromogenic agar testes and to asses antifungal susceptibility to some isolates.

A total of 180 samples of skin swabs and skin particles, nail and hair were collected from patients in Duhok Province Hospitals, outpatient and a number of private clinic dermatologists in Duhok city.

A Total of 63 Candida isolates was detected in this study.

These isolates were subjected to germ tube test, chlamydospores formation and inoculation on commercially available CHROMagar.

Candida albicans was the main yeast species isolated followed by C.

krusei, C.

tropicalis and C.

glabrata CHROMO agar is a convenient and very fast method of identifications of Candida species even in resources poor settings.

The result of antifungal sensitivity test revealed that itraconazole is the main active antifungal against all Candida species with the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 25 μg /ml.

followed by terbinafine, fluconazole and griseofulvin.