Candida species isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary hospital in Honduras: Where is Candida auris?

Bryan Ortiz; Kateryn Aguilar; Celeste Galindo; Lizzy Molina; Gustavo Fontecha

doi:10.18502/cmm.8.3.11212

Bryan Ortiz Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Kateryn Aguilar Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Celeste Galindo Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Lizzy Molina Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Gustavo Fontecha Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/cmm.8.3.11212

Keywords: Cryptic species, Candida albicans complex, hwp1 gene, gpi gene

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Infections by emerging and multiresistant Candida species are becoming more frequent throughout the world. This study aimed to describe Candida species in different wards of a tertiary hospital in Honduras.

Materials and Methods: The prevalence of species within the C. albicans complex was estimated using a molecular approach, and C. auris was investigated using a yeast poolbased DNA extraction method. In total, 328 yeast isolates were identified using phenotypic approaches. For the identification of species within the albicans complex, a molecular approach based on the size polymorphisms of the hpw1 gene was used. In addition, a technique was optimized based on DNA extraction in pools for the rapid identification of C. auris.

Results: A total of 11 species of Candida were identified in the hospital wards. C. albicans showed the highest number of isolates (52.4%). Within the C. albicans complex, C. albicans sensu stricto was the most common, followed by C. dubliniensis. However, C. auris was not found.

Conclusion: Reports on the distribution of Candida species in Honduras are limited; accordingly, the data from this study are of importance for a better understanding of their epidemiology. Moreover, a simple method was offered for the detection of C. auris that could help in its detection in low-resource settings.