Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: November | Volume: 11 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 145-155
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20211119
Utility of VITEK2 in Rapid Speciation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts in a Resource Constrained Setting
Sukanya Verma1, Gita Nataraj2, Shashir Wanjare3, Preeti Mehta4
1Consultant Microbiologist, SRL Diagnostics LTD
2Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital
3Assosiate Professor, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital
4Ex. Professor and Head of Department of Microbiology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital
Corresponding Author: Sukanya Verma
ABSTRACT
Introduction- Incidence of invasive Candidiasis is on a rise. C.albicans is the most common species implicated, however recently increase in infection due to Non Albicans Candida species has also been noted. Empirical use of antifungal agents has led to emergence of resistance. The newer Non albicans Candida species are known to be inherently resistant to some of the antifungal agents. Hence it is necessary to speciate and determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern of pathogenic Candida species. The conventional methods of identification and antifungal susceptibility are labour intensive and time consuming Newer automated methods are easy to perform and help reduce the turnaround time.
Aim and Objectives- This study was carried out to access the usefulness of VITEK2 in identification and AFST of yeast in a resource constrained setting with respect to TAT and cost.
Materials and Method- Species identification and antifungal susceptibility profile of 100 yeast isolates recovered was determined using conventional methods and VITEK2. The results obtained by both method were analysed for Concordance, TAT and Cost
Results- 95% essential agreement was observed between VITEK2 and conventional method. For fluconazole the essential agreement was found to be 96% and for amphotericin B, it was 98%. TAT by VITEK2 was significantly lower compared to conventional method. The cost per test was higher for VITEK2.
Conclusion- VITEK2 is a reliable, feasible, time saving alternative for identification and antifungal susceptibility of the yeasts.
Key words: Non Albicans Candida species, Antifungal resistance, VITEK2, reliable, feasible.