Gitali Bhagawati^1,2*, Sarita Rani Jaiswal^2,3, Ashutosh Bhardwaj^2,4, Navneet Sood^2,5, Rekha Saji Kumar¹, Lincy TP², Sania Paul¹, Mansi¹and Suparno Chakrabarti^2,3

¹Department of Microbiology, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi, India
²Hospital Infection Control Team, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi, India
³Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi, India
⁴Critical Care Medicine, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi, India
⁵Department of Pulmonology, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and Research Centre, New Delhi, India

*Corresponding Author: Gitali Bhagawati, Consultant and Head, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Dharmshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi, India.

Received: June 03, 2021 ; Published: July 09, 2021

Abstract

Background: Candida auris (C. auris) is emerging as a multi-drug resistant (MDR) strain of Candida amongst Non-albicans Candida (NAC) which poses a serious risk of nosocomial spread with high mortality rate.

Aim: Aim of the study is to give emphasis on species level identification of all yeast and yeast like fungus (YYLF) for the implementation of infection control practices (ICP) to prevent outbreak, with special reference to C. auris.

Methods: The study was done over a period of 12 months in a tertiary care hospital. YYLF isolated from primary culture were further sub-cultured on Sabouroud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and incubated at 25°C and 37°C for 72 hours. Identification and antifungal susceptibility was done using Vitek 2 Compact system 8.01 (bioMérieux, North Carolina/USA). The 1^st two isolates were confirmed by molecular method (D1-D2 sequencing). C. auris specific containment measures were implemented in the early part of the study. Clinical data and outcome were evaluated at end of the period.

Findings: Out of 2,487 non-duplicate samples processed over 12 months, YYLF were isolated from 209 (8.40%) samples. Amongst the YYLF, predominant isolate was C. albicans (109/209, 52.15%), followed by C. tropicalis (35/209, 16.74%). Predominant source was urinary samples (115/209, 55%) followed by respiratory samples (60/209, 28%). C. auris was isolated in 7 non-duplicate samples (7/209, 3.35%). Out of these 7 cases, 5 had history of cancer (72.42%). Measures for containment of C. auris were placed prior to the study and implemented at each time of its isolation. No nosocomial spread was detected during this study period.

Conclusion and Clinical Significance: Species level identification following proper quality control in microbiology laboratory along with appropriate sample collection can act as a primer in controlling outbreaks by YYLF. Pre-emptive implementation of hospital infection control (HIC) policies can help in controlling the MDR C.auris, even amongst immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: c. auris; Multi Drug Resistant; Non-albicans Candida; Infection Control Practices; Yeast and Yeast-like Fungus; Hospital Infection Control

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Citation

Citation: Gitali Bhagawati., et al. “Species Level Identification of Yeast and Yeast Like Fungus for Prompt Infection Control Measures in Prevention of Outbreaks: With Special Reference to Candida auris in Pre-covid Era ”. Acta Scientific Microbiology 4.8 (2021): 19-25.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2021 Gitali Bhagawati., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.