Species and antimicrobial susceptibility of fungi isolated from sputum of elderly patients with lower respiratory tract infection

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo investigate the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of fungi isolated from lower respiratory tract(LRT) sputum specimens of elderly patients, and provide evidence for preventing and treating fungal infection.MethodsFungi isolated from LRT specimens of elderly patients in 3 hospitals in Yunna subplateau area between January 2010 and October 2014 were collected, identified and performed antifungal susceptibility testing.ResultsOf 1 887 fungal isolates, Candida albicans (C. albicans) accounted for 65.18%, Mucor（0.69%）, Aspergillus nidulans （0.16%） and other rare strains were isolated; the isolated strains were highly sensitive to nystatin (100.00%), amphotericin B (90.14%), and itraconazole (88.98%); but had higher resistance rates to fluconazole (34.29%) and miconazole (36.62%); five common Candida species were all sensitive to nystatin, but resistance rates of C. albicans and C. glabrata to fluconazole and miconazole were up to 35.94%-40.88%, resistance rate of C. albicans to 5fluorocytosine was 19.51%.ConclusionFungal species and antifungal susceptibility testing results should be considered in antifungal treatment for elderly patients.