The Spectrum of Pathogenic Yeast Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Assam, India

Context: In view of the growing incidence of pathogenic yeast infection all over the world, this study was undertaken to understand its etiology and epidemiology in Assam. Aims: To characterize and study the antifungal susceptibility pattern of the pathogenic yeasts from the clinical samples. Settings and Design: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: 150 patients were enrolled in the study and from which clinical samples were collected. A total of 83 samples showing the growth of yeast in culture were included in the study. The yeasts were identified by conventional and BioMerieux ID 32C and VITEK 2(TM). Antifungal susceptibility test was done by disk diffusion method as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), M44-A2. Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using statistical software Epi-Info 7.1.2.0 (2013; CDC, Atlanta, USA). For comparison of categorical data, the Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was used. A value of p less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The most affected population was the age group of ≤10 years (32.5%) with male preponderance (67.5%). Yeasts were mostly isolated bloodstream infections (49.3%). The major risk factor was prolonged antibiotic intake. Predominant yeast isolates were Candida albicans (43.4%) followed by Candida tropicalis (19.3%). Emerging yeasts like Kodaemea ohmeri (4.8%), Pichia anomala (2.4%), and Candida auris (1.2%) were also isolated. Amphotericin B was effective against all yeast isolates. All the isolates of Candida krusei were resistant to all the azoles. Conclusions: The study reflects that there is a growing incidence of emerging yeast infections and efforts are to be made for their identification and antifungal susceptibility testing for the initiation of appropriate therapy.