P090 Biofilm forming capabilities in multi-drug resistant Candida species with special emphasis on Candida auris isolated from intensive care unit patients

POSTER SESSION 1, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: OBJECTIVE: 1. Biofilm forming capabilities of isolates obtained from intensive care unit (ICU) patients. 2. To study the trend of antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates using MIC method by VITEK-2. METHODS: This is a hospital-based prospective study in which Candida isolates from urine, blood, and BAL fluid of ICU patients from March 2021 to February 2022 were included. Conventional identification methods were performed for all isolates, speciation was done by MALDI-TOF. Biofilm formation by microtiter plate method and anti-fungal susceptibility was performed by VITEK-2. RESULTS: In the present study, out of 360 positive fungal isolates, 20% Candida isolates (72) were obtained from the ICU patients. Candida tropicalis (45.2%) was the most common fungal isolate among all non-albicans Candida spp followed by C. parapsilosis, and C. auris. The biofilm formation was tested by microtiter plate method on Candida isolates. Candida auris showed strong biofilm formation tendency (28.5%). In this study, 16.6% of Candida isolates had resistance against fluconazole out of which 6 isolates were multiresistant to other antifungal. Use of automated machines helped in early identification of these species 24-48 h less than the conventional methods. CONCLUSION: Parallel increase in number of non-albicans Candida beside C. albicans could be because of patients on prolonged antimicrobial therapy, immunosuppressive drugs, varied comorbidities and species selection in the presence of certain antifungals, given the higher level of resistance expressed by NAC. Biofilm production a probable cause for increasing antifungal resistance and therapeutic failure. NAC species are emerging as potential threats to cause infection and posing a therapeutic challenge. Early empirical antifungal therapy and further research to improve diagnostic, prevention, and therapeutic strategies are necessary to reduce the considerable morbidity and mortality.