Identification of Yeast and Yeast-Like Fungi at a Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Study

Background Fungal infections pose a significant global health challenge. Despite their substantial impact, these ubiquitous fungi can become pathogenic but have not received adequate attention in public health, leading to infections that are often underestimated by the general public and healthcare professionals. Candida species and Cryptococcus species play a key role in these infections, with emerging multidrug resistance in Candida species posing considerable challenges. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of yeast and yeast-like infections, particularly in the COVID-19 era, and to assess the antifungal susceptibility pattern. Methodology A retrospective observational study was conducted at a rural tertiary care medical college in Maharashtra, India. Retrospective records of samples processed for fungal culture were analyzed in the microbiology department. Yeast identification and antifungal susceptibility were performed using the VITEK-2 automated system. Results Among 95 fungal isolates, 86 (90.52%) were yeast isolates, primarily non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. Candida albicans accounted for 41 (47.67%) yeast isolates. In 14 isolates, NAC species were not identified by the VITEK-2 system up to the species level. Isolates from urine samples contributed the highest percentage of 61% (58) of yeast isolates. C. albicans showed high sensitivity to most antifungal agents. Other Candida species, such as Candida famata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida guilliermondii, were sensitive to all antifungal agents. Candida auris showed complete resistance to amphotericin B and fluconazole but sensitivity to other agents. Mixed sensitivity patterns were observed in Candida ciferri and Candida lusitaniae, with some resistance to voriconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin. Conclusions This study shows the increasing prevalence of yeast and yeast-like infections, particularly NAC, during the COVID-19 era. Improved yeast identification and susceptibility testing are crucial for guiding the appropriate treatment and mitigating the impact of these infections, emphasizing the need for comprehensive future studies in this area.