Abstract

To determine the frequency and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species causing candidemia or blood stream infections (BSI) in immunocompromised patientsof a bone marrow transplant unit. The study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi in collaboration with Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Center (AFBMTC), Rawalpindi, from 1^st June 2019 to 31^st December 2019.Atotal 256 paired blood culture samples from patients of all ages, irrespective of gender were collected during a period of seven months. The samples were processed as recommended Clinical & Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Antifungal susceptibility by break point MICs was performed through VITEK® 2 system (version: 08.01) for Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Amphotericin B.  Of the total 256 blood cultures, 46 (17.97%) were positive for Candida species. The susceptibility of C. albicans was 100% to Amphotericin B, 90% to Fluconazole and 10% to Itraconazole, while C. tropicalis showed sensitivity of 92%, 88% and 0% against Amphotericin B, Fluconazole and Itraconazole, respectively. C. parapsilosis was found sensitive to Amphotericin B while resistance to Fluconazole and Itraconazole.Frequency of candidemia among immunocompromised patients is 17.9%. C. tropicalis and C. albicans are the two most common Candida species involved in blood stream infections in our setup. Fluconazole and Amphotericin B, both were found susceptible and can be used as empirical therapy.