Prevalence and Identification of Candida Species in Oral Candidiasis among Immunocompromised Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in South Asia
Samiya Nishath*, M. L. Kavitha Latha, D. Savitha and Ajaz Ahmed
Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
*Corresponding author
Abstract:
When host defense fails, opportunistic fungal pathogens can take foundation in the oral cavity, an ecologically dynamic niche. Oral candidiasis is still one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. Objective of the current hospital cross sectional study was to find out the prevalence and species distribution of Candida in 103 immunologically susceptible patients who were identified at Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad. Oral swabs and mucosal scrapings were taken under direct microscopy, and then cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and CHROMagar Candida, and morphologically speciation was performed on corn meal agar. There was a pronounced male predominance. A majority of the isolates were non-albicans species, namely Candida tropicalis, occasionally Candida krusei and Candida glabrata was isolated. These results suggest an epidemiological movement of oral candidiasis towards non-albicans Candida species with a direct correlation to species-level identification for proper direct prudent antifungal drug and improvement in clinical responses in immunocompromised individuals.
Keywords:
Oral candidiasis, Candida speciation, Immunocompromised host, non-albicans Candida, opportunistic fungal infection.
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How to cite this article:
Samiya Nishath, Kavitha Latha M. L., Savitha D. and Ajaz Ahmed. 2026. Prevalence and Identification of Candida Species in Oral Candidiasis among Immunocompromised Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in South Asia.
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.
15(6): 188-194
doi:
https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2026.1506.019
Citations
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) 
