Work

Isolation, identification, and characterization of Candida species isolated from oral specimens of cancer patients and healthy individuals; a cohort study in Galle District, Sri Lanka

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The incidences of opportunistic fungal infections have dramatically increased in recent years, causing significant mortality rates in hospitalized patients, where immunocompromised populations, such as cancer patients, are being the prime candidates. Candida species are considered the fourth most common cause of nosocomial infections. Over the years, these organisms have developed increased resistance to traditional antifungal agents owing to the widespread overuse of these drugs. This study focuses on the prevalence, antifungal resistance, and characterization of oral Candida colonization in two distinct populations: cancer patients and healthy community individuals. METHODS: Oral swabs and rinse samples were collected from 170 cancer patients who were admitted and visited the oncology unit of the National Hospital, Galle, Sri Lanka. The same number of healthy individuals was studied as the control group, and Candida isolation, identification, and characterization were carried out by standard microbiological methods. Morphological and physiological characteristics, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 220 yeast species were isolated, with 130 from the clinical group and 90 from the community group. Although C. albicans was the predominant oral colonizer in both cohorts, the identification results indicate different non-albicans Candida species profiles across them. Over 73% of the Candida albicans isolates were azole-resistant. CONCLUSION: Apart from Candida albicans, non-albicans Candida, such as Candida dubliniensis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida famata, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida rugosa, Candida pelliculosa, Candida guilliermondii, and Candida utilis were isolated from the oral cavities of cancer patients. Antifungal susceptibility data depict the emergence of azole resistance and amphotericin B resistance in the test population.

Source: BMC Oral Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12903-025-07258-7

Authors: Dharani Wanigasekara, Subodha Wickramasinghe, Gaya Wijayaratne, Mayuri Napagoda

Institution: University of Ruhuna

Language: English

Topic: Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190