Candiduria: Managing a therapeutic challenge diagnostically

Introduction: Candida species are among the most common fungal pathogens that are capable of initiating infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Candidiasis is rightly called as the disease of diseased. Candiduria is regarded as red flag or surrogate marker for associated high mortality among patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Candida species among women patients suffering from urinary tract infection. Materials and Methods: The present prospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology of a teaching tertiary care hospital located in Indore. A total of 96 Candida species isolated during June 2014 to November 2015 from female urine samples were subjected to species identification by microscopic, biochemical, enzymatic, and automated methods. Results: Among the 96 Candida species, 25% isolates were Candida albicans, 70.8% were non-albicans Candida, and 4.1% were identified as Geotrichum candidum. Candida glabrata (37.5%) predominated among all the species, followed by C. albicans (25%), Candida tropicalis (16.6%) and Candida krusei (16.6%). Conclusions: The finding of candiduria in a patient should neither be dismissed nor empirically treated but requires a careful and logical evaluation. The non-albicans Candida terror should be highlighted to manage the therapeutic challenge successfully.