It had been observed that tuberculosis (TB) subjects can be co-infected with <i>Candida </i>sp. which was previously assumed as normal flora of the oral cavity. <i>Candida </i>sp. might become ...It had been observed that tuberculosis (TB) subjects can be co-infected with <i>Candida </i>sp. which was previously assumed as normal flora of the oral cavity. <i>Candida </i>sp. might become an opportunistic pathogen in immune compromised individuals. <i>Candida </i>co-infection with <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> in TB patients might complicate underlying disease process in the lungs. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: A total of 400 sputum samples were collected from TB patients and examined using Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique and MDR/RIF Genexpert system for TB. Samples positive for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with gentamicin and examined for the presence of budding yeast cells and pseudohyphae on Gram’s stain. <i>Candida </i>sp. isolated from TB positive sputa were cultured on CHROMager <i>Candida </i>for identification to species level and subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing. <b>Results:</b> Out of 400 sputum samples examined for TB 93 (23.3%) were positive and 32 (34.4%) out of 93 TB positive cases were co-infected with <i>Candida </i>sp. <i>Candida albicans </i>was the most<i> </i>predominant species with a prevalence of 23 (67.6%),<i> C. tropicals </i>4 (11.8%),<i> C. krusei </i>4 (11.8%) and<i> C. parapsilosis</i> 3 (8.8%). One sample had dual infection. Female subjects had high prevalence (19.4%) than the male (15.7%). Age group 31 - 40 years had both high prevalence of TB 32.3% and <i>Candida </i>25.0%. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that isolated <i>Candida </i>sp. were more susceptible to vericonazole and fluconazole compared to nystatin. <b>Conclusions: </b>Tuberculosis weakens the immune systems of infected persons especially when prophylactic administration proves abortive or there is non-adherence to treatment prescriptions. This may cause the development of multidrug resistance TB. <i>Candida </i>sp. may utilize these opportunities to establish alongside <i>M. tuberculosis</i> and worsen treatment and patient condition. For good treatment of TB, <i>Candida </i>co-infection should be screened concomitantly with TB in TB suspected individuals.展开更多
文摘It had been observed that tuberculosis (TB) subjects can be co-infected with <i>Candida </i>sp. which was previously assumed as normal flora of the oral cavity. <i>Candida </i>sp. might become an opportunistic pathogen in immune compromised individuals. <i>Candida </i>co-infection with <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> in TB patients might complicate underlying disease process in the lungs. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: A total of 400 sputum samples were collected from TB patients and examined using Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique and MDR/RIF Genexpert system for TB. Samples positive for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with gentamicin and examined for the presence of budding yeast cells and pseudohyphae on Gram’s stain. <i>Candida </i>sp. isolated from TB positive sputa were cultured on CHROMager <i>Candida </i>for identification to species level and subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing. <b>Results:</b> Out of 400 sputum samples examined for TB 93 (23.3%) were positive and 32 (34.4%) out of 93 TB positive cases were co-infected with <i>Candida </i>sp. <i>Candida albicans </i>was the most<i> </i>predominant species with a prevalence of 23 (67.6%),<i> C. tropicals </i>4 (11.8%),<i> C. krusei </i>4 (11.8%) and<i> C. parapsilosis</i> 3 (8.8%). One sample had dual infection. Female subjects had high prevalence (19.4%) than the male (15.7%). Age group 31 - 40 years had both high prevalence of TB 32.3% and <i>Candida </i>25.0%. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that isolated <i>Candida </i>sp. were more susceptible to vericonazole and fluconazole compared to nystatin. <b>Conclusions: </b>Tuberculosis weakens the immune systems of infected persons especially when prophylactic administration proves abortive or there is non-adherence to treatment prescriptions. This may cause the development of multidrug resistance TB. <i>Candida </i>sp. may utilize these opportunities to establish alongside <i>M. tuberculosis</i> and worsen treatment and patient condition. For good treatment of TB, <i>Candida </i>co-infection should be screened concomitantly with TB in TB suspected individuals.
