[Production of slime factor by various Candida types]

The aim of this study was to investigate the production of slime factor among Candida species, which were isolated from various clinical specimens, and to evaluate the factors which affect the slime production by means of the species and clinical samples. A total of 350 Candida strains, 85 of them isolated from blood samples of patients with sepsis, while 246 throat and 19 vaginal isolates were from subjects who had no complaints, were included to the study. By using modified tube adherence test, 53 (15.14%) Candida strains were found to produce slime factor. Slime factor production was higher among the strains which were the causative agents of candidemia when compared with the strains isolated from throat swabs, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). It was also shown that the slime factor positivity rates of C. famata, C. guillermondii and C. krusei were significantly higher than the other species (p < 0.001).