Prevalence And Pathogenicity of Non-Albicans Candida Species Among Diabetic Patients with Post Infection of Covid-19 in Basrah

Abstract

Aims The aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence of non albicans Candida species in diabetic patients with post Covid 19 infections with evaluation the virulence factors of yeast isolates. Materials and Methods A total of 75 oral and nasal swabs were collected from post Covid 19 infection associated with diabetic patients from both Al-Moani and Al-Faihaa hospitals in Basrah province/Iraq from September to November 2021. The age groups of the patients were ranged between 10 to 90 years old. For data collection, a questionnaire form including name, age, gender, underlying disease, type of Covid 19 vaccine, type of antibiotics, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive therapy besides the date of hospital admission were collected for each patient.Results Depending on the sings and symptoms of yeast infections and examination of specimens the prevalence of fungal infections appeared in 46( 61.3%), oral infections 35(46.6%) and nasal infections in 40(53.3%), while the age groups (51-70) years appeared as the highest incidence of fungal infection and female appeared in 33 (71.7%) cases. In spite of non vaccinated patients were showed high accidence of yeast infections 17(80.95%) with comparison of vaccinated patients4(19.04%) .The identification of pathogenic yeast isolates revealed that classification of eight species due to four genera that involving Candida albicans ,C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Magnusiomyces capitatus,Pichia kudriavzevii, Magnusiomyces ,Rhodotorula and Trichosporon ashii After excluded C. abicans, the incidence of non abicans Candida species showed that C. dubliniensi appeared in high percentage 8/21(38.09%) followed by C. tropicalis (19.04%).  The enzymatic activity of yeast isolates (proteinase, phospholipase, esterase and hemolysin) appeared that the majority of the yeast isolates produce esterase activity, with 18(85.71%), while proteinase production was demonstrated minority 3(14.28%), as well as, the biofilm formation of yeast isolates showed that ability of most isolates 17(80.95%) to produce slim layer