Candiduria in Hospitalized Patients and Identification of Isolated Candida Species by Morphological and Molecular Methods in Ilam, Iran

Background: Candiduria in hospitalized patients may represent contamination, colonization, or urinary tract infections. On the other hand, candidemia and upper urinary tract infection could be the complications of candiduria. The aim of this study was to determine candiduria in hospitalized patients and identify isolated Candida species by conventional and molecular methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on hospitalized patients in Imam Khomeini and Mostafa Khomeini hospitals in Ilam, western Iran from Jan to Dec 2016. Urine samples of hospitalized patients were collected during a period of 4 months for diagnosis of candiduria. Primary identification was done by conventional methods. PCR profile was carried out using phenol-chloroform method and confirmed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique by MspI restriction enzyme. Results: Candiduria was diagnosed in 18 (9.2%) cases from a total of 195 patients. Isolated yeasts were identified as C. albicans (n: 13), C. glabrata (n: 5), and C. parapsilosis (n: 1) in the one case both C. albicans and C. glabrata were isolated from a urine sample. Conclusion: Candida urinary tract infection is becoming increasingly common in hospitalized patients but, differentiation fungal colonization from infection and identification of etiologic agents for optimal treatment is necessary.