P066 Candidemia in a tertiary care hospital: epidemiology, speciation and antifungal susceptibility pattern

POSTER SESSION 1, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: OBJECTIVE: The incidence of bloodstream fungal infection is on the rise and Candida species remains responsible for the majority of the cases. Candidemia is frequently associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to characterize Candidemia, its epidemiology, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility pattern in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Candida species isolated from the blood culture of 51 patients in a tertiary care hospital during the period from 2016 to 2021 were included in the study. The growth on SDA was confirmed by Gram staining and speciation and antifungal susceptibility were performed with Automated system VITEK 2.0. RESULT: Out of 51 isolates, Candida auris was the most common species accounting for about 37.2% followed by C. albicans 19.7%, C. tropicalis 17.6%, and C. famata 9.8%. Candida auris has emerged as the predominant species during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) pandemic. The incidence has risen from 22% to 60% during the pandemiC. Candida species were found to be 96.08% sensitive to flucytosine, 94.12% to voricanazole, 90.19% to caspofungin/micafungin, 60.78% to amphoterecin B, and 56.86% to fluconazole. CONCLUSION: Candida auris has emerged as the predominant species in ICU setup and during SARS- CoV-2 pandemiC. Empirical treatment with echinocandines would be appropriate in high-risk patients with suspected Candidemia.