Immunochemistry & Immunopathology

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common microbial infections affecting all the age groups worldwide. Earlier studies have shown that apart from bacteria, many species of yeast in the genus Candida also cause urinary tract infection. However, modern diagnosis of Candida species and antifungal susceptibility testing in the laboratory have been undermined with no routine service available for antifungal susceptibility. This study was designed to characterize and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Candida species causing infection of the urinary tract among patients attending Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja Nigeria. A total of 250 participants whose provisional diagnosis was urinary tract infection were recruited for this study. Early morning midstream urine specimens were collected in sterile wide mouth universal containers. The samples were cultured aerobically on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SAB), Cystine-Lactose-Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) agar and Blood agar at 370C for 24 to 48 hours. The isolates were characterized to species level by employing microscopic, biochemical test, chromogenic media (Chrom agar Candida) and Analytical Profile Index (API) 32C examination analysis. The use of API and Chrom agar Candida as a routine diagnostic material for Candida species should be adopted. In addition, the Candida species were most susceptible to ketoconazole and Fluconazole. All the isolates were resistance to griseofulvin.