Publication Details
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this research was to characterize the genetic markers responsible for antifungal resistance in Candida auris clinical isolates obtained from leukemic Iraqi patients. Method: A total of 100 clinical specimens (50 blood and 50 oral samples) were collected from patients of all age groups and both sexes. The cotton swab tip was rubbed gently into the oral cavity and placed into a sterile container to culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) at 40°C for one week, Chrom agar Candida plus, and Blood agar media at 37°C for 12-24 hrs. Yeast identification and anti-yeast sensitivity tests were carried out using the VITEK 2 Compact automated system. All multidrug-resistant C. auris isolates were confirmed by ITS rRNA sequencing. Results: Eleven isolates (11%) were identified as C. auris. The genomic characterization was correlated with the demographic profile of each sample source. Among the isolates, 5 were from blood samples and 6 from oral samples. Seven out of the 11 isolates were multidrug-resistant. Molecular detection of ITS rRNA confirmed the identification of the seven multidrug-resistant isolates, with a molecular weight of 450 bp. Novelty: This study highlights the emergence of Candida auris as a significant nosocomial pathogen, especially among immunocompromised populations. It emphasizes the multidrug resistance and challenges in treating C. auris infections, particularly in critically ill and neutropenic patients.