Insights into the Prevalence and Resistance Patterns of Candida Species among Diabetic Patients in Cameroon: Potential Paths for Alternative Treatments

I. F. Kenfack Tsague^{1, 2}, T. K. Ngouana¹, F. F. Dongho Dongmo³, R. M. Toghueo Kouipou¹, A. Dougue¹, L. Yimgang¹, P. M. D. S. Abrantes⁴, M. L. Sameza^3, , F. F. Boyom¹ and M. I. Choudhary²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon

²Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi - 75270, Pakistan

³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Cameroon

⁴Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Cite this paper:
I. F. Kenfack Tsague, T. K. Ngouana, F. F. Dongho Dongmo, R. M. Toghueo Kouipou, A. Dougue, L. Yimgang, P. M. D. S. Abrantes, M. L. Sameza, F. F. Boyom and M. I. Choudhary. Insights into the Prevalence and Resistance Patterns of Candida Species among Diabetic Patients in Cameroon: Potential Paths for Alternative Treatments. American Journal of Microbiological Research. 2024; 12(2):18-26. doi: 10.12691/ajmr-12-2-2

Abstract

The study aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding the prevalence of Candida infections in diabetic patients and their sensitivity to antifungal drugs. Clinical samples from diabetic patients were collected at Yaoundé Central Hospital and Candida species identified. The ability of these species to form biofilms was assessed, and their susceptibility to usual antifungal drugs, as well as some plant extracts and fractions, was determined. Mycological diagnosis was performed on the collected samples. The Candida species isolated and identified were subjected to the crystal violet assay in a microtiter plate to examine their biofilm-forming abilities. The disk diffusion method was used for susceptibility testing for reference antifungals, while the broth dilution method was employed for plant extracts and fractions. These were obtained from the leaves of Picralima nitida, Phragmanthera capitata, and Spondia cythereae, and the roots and fruits of Garcinia Kola. The study found that 43.18% of the 396 collected samples were colonized by various Candida species, including Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida guillermondii, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida ciferrii. Biofilm production was observed in 46.04% of the isolates, with non-albicans Candida species showing a higher rate than Candida albicans. The isolates exhibited high resistance to nystatin and ketoconazole, dose-dependent sensitivity to miconazole, and sensitivity to econazole and fluconazole. Multidrug resistance was observed in 24.75% of the isolates. While none of the crude extracts showed activity against the tested Candida, six out of 25 fractions (Pnl^B, Pcl^A, Pcl^W, Scl^A, Scl^W, and Gkf^W) displayed fungistatic activities on some strains. These findings offer valuable insights into the prevalence and antifungal resistance patterns of Candida species in diabetic patients in Cameroon. They also suggest the potential for alternative treatments using plant fractions.

Keywords:
diabetes Candida biofilms antifungal susceptibility

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