Species Diversity of Candida from Hospital Environment in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

In the past few years the role the hospital environment in the transmission of infections has increased leading to the increase in the incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with Candida infections. The hospital environment can serve as an alternative niche for the presence of opportunistic pathogens of public health concern. This study sought to use molecular approach to study the prevalence of Candida from hospital environments in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from different hospital environments and cultured on Chromagar Candida media. Taqman PCR was then used to characterize the isolates, the ability of Candida to form biofilm was evaluated. In this study, Candida parapsilosis with 31.25% was the most prevalent Candida followed by Candida (Nakaseomyces) glabrata and Candida krusei with prevalence of 28.13%. The ability to form biofilms was evaluated for these environmental isolates, and it was observed that C. parapsilosis biofilm formation correlated with high prevalence with C. parapsilosis having high biofilm formation (20/64) followed by C. glabrata and C. krusei (18/64) each Environmental sampling has the potential to improve our knowledge about yeast biodiversity and the evolution of pathogenic yeasts with clinical relevance. This study is the first in Nigeria to study to characterize Candida from hospital environments in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria.