Phenotypic and genotypic variations in Candida albicans isolates from Romanian patients

Abstract

Background: During the last two decades a major increase in the proportion of severe fungal infections has been noted due to the excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, catheters, and a growing number of immune-compromised patients. Objectives: This is the first investigation providing complete data regarding the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of Candida albicans (C. albicans) isolates in Romanian patients. Methods: We investigated 301 isolates in terms of genotype determination (G), resistogram (R), phospholipase activity (Pl), haemolysis (Hl), proteinase activity (Pt), and biofilm formation (BF). Results: The analyzed isolates of C. albicans showed low values for Pt (61.73%), Hl (95.49%), and BF (60.71%), and did not present any Pl activity (92.23%). More than half of the investigated samples were genotype A with 450 bp (52.92%) and the majority (86.19%) were resistant to sodium selenite (A), boric acid (B), sodium periodate (D) and silver nitrate (E), but sensitive to cetrimide (-). One-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant effects of the infection site on biofilm formation (p = 0.0137) and no significant correlation was found between the genotype (A, B, C) and the infection site (p =0.449). Conclusions: Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that C. albicans isolates in Romanian patients exhibit different genotypic and phenotypic patterns, and no significant correlations between genotype and infection site could be observed.