Characterization of clinical isolates of fungal pathogens in the clinical microbiology laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out with the following objectives; To characterize the clinical isolates of fungal pathogens in the clinical microbiology laboratory, Department of medical microbiology and to determine the species of fungal pathogens in the clinical specimen in the clinical microbiology, Makerere University. Methods: 31 CSF samples and 38 sputum samples which were received in the department of microbiology were subjected to diagnostic fungal microscopic examination using 10% KOH, India ink test, Gram stain, lactophenol cotton blue test and fungal culture on media in Petri dish. This was a cross sectional study, carried out in microbiology BSL Ⅱ laboratory college of health science, Makerere university from October to December. Results; Out of the 31 CSF samples, 1(3.2%) of the sample showered presence of a fungal pathogen that was confirmed as cryptococcus neoformans with the remaining 38(96.8%) of the sample having no organisms. Out of the 38 sputum samples, candida albicans had the highest prevalence with 15.79%, candida tropicalis covered 7.89% of the samples and candida glabrata 5.26% Aspergillus species like fumigatus and flarus both had 5.26%. Conclusion; In this study, there was high prevalence of candida albicans in sputum samples which is the leading fungal pathogen in this sample. And in CSF, there is very low prevalence of fungal infection with cryptococcus neoformans being the only fungal pathogen detected in the 31 CFS samples. Characterization of clinical isolates of fungal pathogens in clinical samples in the clinical microbiology laboratory Makerere university provided the baseline information on the common fungal pathogens to ease future diagnosis and management of fungal infections among patients.