Biofilm formation by Candida Tropicalis: comparison between isolates from immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients

 Krishnaswamy NALINA ¹ and Menon THANGAM ²

¹ Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Perak, Malaysia and ² University of Madras, Department of Microbiology, Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Candida tropicalis is an important pathogen. Infections caused by Candida spp. are often associated with biofilm on implanted medical devices and on epithelial surfaces. Materials and methods: We compared clinical isolates of C. tropicalis from immunocompromised patients (n=46) with those from immunocompetent (n=41) patients for biofilm formation. Results: Biofilms were produced in 73/87 C. tropicalis isolates; 41 (56.2%); biofilm activity 3+ (n=2), 2+ (n=14) and 1+ (n=25) from immunocompromised patients and 32 (43.8%) biofilm activity 3+ (n=3), 2+ (n=7) and 1+ (n=22) from immunocompetent patients. Conclusion: Our study showed that C. tropicalis can produce biofilms in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Further analysis of a large number of isolates from immunocompromised patients would validate the present finding.

Keywords: Candida tropicalis, biofilm, immunocompromised, immunocompetent

Correspondence author: Krishnaswamy NALINA, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Ipoh – 30450, Perak, Malaysia.

Tel: +6-0108106135, E mail: knalina@rcmp.unikl.edu.my

Brunei Int Med J. 2014; 10 (4): 201-204