Isolation and identification of Candida species from catheter-associated urinary tract infection in Thamar city hospitals, Yemen.

Background: The incidence of urinary tract infections associated with Candida is increasing in Yemeni public hospitals.

Objectives: The primary objective of this research was to isolate specific Candida species responsible for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and to examine the antifungal sensitivity of these Candida isolates.

Patients and methods: A total of 200 samples were collected from patients with catheters admitted to multiple hospitals of Thamar city (Yemen). There were 50 positive samples with Candida out of 200 samples. We conducted the primary identification process using the established protocols. Before isolation and identification, all yeast isolates underwent sub-culturing on Sabouraud dextrose agar. We employed the standard microbiological procedures such as Gram staining, colonial morphology analysis, lactophenol cotton blue assay, germ tube formation assessment, colony staining on chrom agar Candida medium, and incubation at 37 °C for 48 h. The assessment of cultures was conducted by evaluating their predominant species. All Candida isolates were tested for antifungal susceptibility using the disk diffusion technique, as indicated by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M44-A document recommendations.

Results: In this study, the prevalence of Candida species obtained from catheter-associated UTIs was shown to be the highest among individuals aged 51-60 years (28.0%) and the lowest was among those aged 10-20 years (8.0%). Males exhibit higher rates than females, with males accounting for 56.0 and females for 44.0%, respectively. The predominant strain from catheters linked to urinary tract infections was Candida albicans. The Candida isolates had the highest susceptibility to itraconazole, with fluconazole and nystatin at sensitivity rates of 64, 60, and 50%, respectively. Amphotericin B and ketoconazole exhibited the most elevated concentrations. The p value of duration of catheterization < 5 was significant (p = 0.01), as well as significant in anti-fungal susceptibility testing of itraconazole, ketoconazole, and nystatin which are (p = 0.03), (p = 0.04), and (p = 0.03) respectively.

Conclusion: Urinary tract infection due to candiduria was more common in patients with indwelling urinary catheter. The catheter-associated urinary tract infection caused by Candida species occurred mainly in old male patients. Candia albicans was the predominant Candida species isolated from urinary tract infection associated with urinary catheter at Thamar city hospitals. This study determined that diabetes and antibiotic use are significant predisposing factors associated with isolation of Candida in specimens submitted by patients at Thamar city hospitals.