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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance
Published on: December 28, 2017
First report on echinocandin resistant Polish Candida isolates
Martyna Mroczyńska1, Anna Brillowska-Dabrowska1
1Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Gdańsk, Poland.
Purpose:
Candida spp. are ranked as one of the four major causative agents of fungal infections. The number of infections caused by Candida species resistant to fluconazole, which is applied as the first line drug in candidiasis treatment, increases every year. In such cases the application of echinocandin is necessary. Echinocandin susceptibility testing has become a routine laboratory practice in many countries due to the increasing frequency of clinical failures during treatment with these drugs.
Methods:
We performed anidulafungin, micafungin and caspofungin susceptibility testing according to the microdilution broth method on 240 Candida isolates collected in Polish hospitals.
Results:
We identified 12 isolates resistant to all echinocandins within 240 examined isolates. Moreover, 6 of the examined samples were identified as rare Candida species and among them we observed very high echinocandin MIC values.
Conclusion:
Our research proves that in Poland there is a problem of echinocandin resistance. Moreover, we identified two species of Candida which are rare causative agents of human infections, and there was no reported incidence of such infections in Poland until now.
Insights
Echinocandin resistance is a growing problem in Poland, with 12 out of 240 Candida isolates showing resistance to all tested echinocandins. Rare Candida species also exhibited high resistance, highlighting the need for ongoing susceptibility testing.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Candida species are major fungal pathogens.
- Fluconazole resistance in Candida is increasing, necessitating echinocandin use.
- Clinical failures with echinocandins prompt routine susceptibility testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess echinocandin resistance in Candida isolates from Polish hospitals.
- To identify the prevalence of resistance to anidulafungin, micafungin, and caspofungin.
Main Methods:
- Microdilution broth method used for susceptibility testing.
- Tested 240 Candida isolates collected from Polish hospitals.
- Evaluated resistance to anidulafungin, micafungin, and caspofungin.
Main Results:
- 12 out of 240 isolates (5%) were resistant to all tested echinocandins.
- Six rare Candida species were identified with very high echinocandin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values.
- Identified previously unreported Candida species causing infections in Poland.
Conclusions:
- Echinocandin resistance is a significant issue in Poland.
- Rare Candida species pose a threat due to high resistance.
- Continued surveillance of echinocandin resistance is crucial.
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