Oropharyngeal and oesophageal candidiasis in HIV infected patients.

Background- Candidiasis is a common infection caused by yeast-like fungus. Oropharyngeal candidiasis occurs when CD4 count is 200-500 cell/mm3, with fall in CD4 count to <200 cells/mm3 oesophageal candidiasis occur in HIV infected patients.Aim- To identify and characterize Candida species (oropharyngeal and oesophageal) in HIV infected patients and to correlate them with CD4+ T lymphocyte count.Method- Two hundred HIV positive cases were selected for this study. Identification of Candida species was done by conventional standard techniques using Gram’s stain, cultural character on Saboraud dextrose agar, germ tube test, morphology on corn meal agar, colour difference on CHROM agar and sugar assimilation test.Findings- The prevalence of candidiasis was 72.5% with majority of the patients belonged to age group 16 - 45 years. Male to female ratio was 1.64:1 with male preponderance. 58.62% of patients belonged to Stage 4 of WHO clinical staging. Majority of species (60.67%) were C. albicans. The non-Candida albicans isolated were C. dublinienses (25.33%), C. krusei (12.00%), C. tropicalis (1.33%) and C. glabrata (0.67%).Conclusion- Though Candida albicans continues to be the common and important pathogen among the Candida species there is a increase in the incidence of non- Candida albicans species like Candida dublinienses, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata.