Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Candida Species among Cancer Patients Attending B.P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan

Background: Cancer is considered as a second most common cause of human death worldwide. The sufferers with most cancers are ongoing remedies for cell destruction which immediately lead them to at risk of infections because of their immune- compromised state. Among cancer patients, the fungal flora of the body imposes a greatest threat for own self. Antifungal resistance has been evolving lately as a burgeoning health care problem among Candida species. So, this study is aimed to explore the antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species among cancers patient. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study carried out in the Microbiology laboratory of B.P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. Standard microbiological techniques were used to identify Candida isolates, and HiCrome differential media were used for Candida speciation. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined by using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) disk diffusion method. Results: 50 Candida positive samples were found out of a total of 680 samples processed. Of the 50 Candida isolates, the majority of them were isolated from urine 24 (48.0%) followed by Bal 10 (20%). Candida albicans 19(38%) was the most predominant species followed by Candida glabrata 12(24%), Candida tropicalis 11(22%), Candida krusei 8(16%), Candida . All isolates were highly sensitive to voriconazole with a susceptibility rate of rate 48(96%) The highest resistance was found for Clotrimazole 40(80%) followed by ketoconazole 35 (70%), amphotericin B 27(54%). Conclusion: Candida albicans was the most common species responsible for Candida infections. The majority of the isolates were sensitive to voriconazole and resistance to clotrimazole. The high resistance rate to the commonly antifungal agent implicates continued antifungal- susceptibility surveillance needs to be conducted to monitor the antifungal susceptibility trends of Candida species among cancer patients.