Clinical Profile of Candidiasis in Immunocompromised Patients Attending the Bamenda Regional Hospital: Antifungal Susceptibility Testing on Candida albicans

Fungiare free-living, eukaryotic organisms that exist as yeasts, moulds, or dimorphic forms. Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection affecting the oral mucosa, primarily caused by Candida albicans, a component of normal oral microflora in 30-50% of individuals. This study determines the clinical profile of candidiasis among immunocompromised individuals and the antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans. A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS version 21.0. Of 500 participants, most were aged 28-37 years (51.2%), female (87.2%), married (59.4%), and Christian (99%) (p<0.001). Prevalence rates were: oral candidiasis (3.4%), gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis (5.8%), and vulvovaginal (VV) candidiasis (26.6%). Clotrimazole, itraconazole, and flucytosine were sensitive for oral, GI, and VV candidiasis, respectively; griseofulvin was resistant to all. Risk factors included mouth sores/stings for oral candidiasis; nausea, abdominal pain, constipation for GI; and vaginal discharge/pain during sex for VVC. Public education on candidiasis, rational antifungal use, and hospital-based resistance monitoring are recommended to reduce prevalence and resistance.