Version 2: Incidence and Characterization of Candida Species belonging to Iraqi hospitalized Patients

Background: Most fungal infections by opportunistic yeast pathogens such as Candida spp. are the major causes of morbidity in patients with lowered immune system and displayed a non- susceptibility to known antifungals. 

Objectives: This study focuses on isolating Candida species from non-candidiasis Iraqi patients at Tikrit Hospital to assess and predict the potential risk of developing candidiasis. 

Materials and Methods: In this study 110 samples (vaginal and oral) were collected from Iraqi patients at Tikrit hospital and some other private clinic in Tikrit city. Candida isolates identification was performed by biochemical and molecular characterization. 

Results: The most detected Candida spp. were 64.63% of Candida albicans followed by Candida tropicalis 8.53%, Candida luistaniae 8.53%, Candida glabrata 8.53%, Candida cifferii 6.09%, and Candida guilliermondii 3.65%. All the isolated strains were non-susceptible, at least, to one known antifungal, except Candida albicans that was susceptible to all the tested antifungals. 50% of our isolated Candida spp. were resistant to flucanozole. Interestingly, the candida spp. were infecting these patients harmlessly without any symptom of candidiasis before and since the isolation of these species till the submission of the present paper. 

Conclusions: The most detected Candida species was C. albicans (64.63%), while C. guilliermondii was the least (3.65%). All strains were resistant to at least one antifungal, except C. albicans, which was fully susceptible. About 50% of Candida spp. were fluconazole-resistant. Interestingly, they infected patients without causing candidiasis symptoms.