ORIGINAL ARTICLE/ARTICLE ORIGINAL Epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from hospitalized patients E ´ pide´miologie et sensibilite´ aux antifongiques de diverses souches de candida isole´esdepatients hospitalise´s A. Kalkanci a, * , E. Berk a , B. Aykan a , K. Caglar a , K. Hizel b , D. Arman b , S. Kustimur a a Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, 06500 Besevler, Ankara, Turkey b Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, 06500 Besevler, Ankara, Turkey Received 16 May 2006; received in revised form 7 November 2006; accepted 26 November 2006 Available online 5 February 2007 Journal de Mycologie Me ´dicale (2007) 17, 16—20 KEYWORDS Candida; Nosocomial infection; Antifungal susceptibility testing; Fluconazole; Amphotericin B; Voriconazole; Caspofungin Abstract Objective: Voricanozole and caspofungin are new antifungal agents used in the treatment of Candida infections. However, the susceptibility of Candida species to these antifungal agents could be variable. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the Candida species isolated from hospitalized patients and to determine their susceptibilities to some antifungal agents including voriconazole, caspofungin, fluconazole and amphotericin B. Material and Methods: A total of 164 Candida strains were isolated from clinical specimens obtained during the study period. Of 164 strains, 103 (62%) were C. albicans, followed by C. tropicalis (11%) and C. glabrata (8%). Other Candida species less frequently identified were C. parapsilosis, C. lusitaniae, C. kefyr , C. pelliculosa and C. norvegensis. Antifungal susceptibility testing of these isolates were performed according to the CLSI (formerly NCCLS) M27-A2 broth microdilution method and the results were read after 24 h. Results: Fluconazole resistance was seen in 21 (13%) isolates. All fluconazole-resistant isolates showed low MICs to caspofungin and amphotericin B. MIC values of voriconazole for Candida isolates were between 0.125 and 4 mg/ml. Conclusion: Amphotericin B is still the major therapeutic agent for azole resistant Candida strains and caspofungin seems to be a good alternative. # 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: kalkanci@gazi.edu.tr (A. Kalkanci). Disponible en ligne sur www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mycmed 1156-5233/$ — see front matter # 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2006.11.003