Microorganisms (Jan 2024)

Evaluation of Biofilm Production and Antifungal Susceptibility to Fluconazole in Clinical Isolates of <i>Candida</i> spp. in Both Planktonic and Biofilm Form

  • Anna Marzucco,
  • Giulia Gatti,
  • Maria Sofia Montanari,
  • Michela Fantini,
  • Claudia Colosimo,
  • Maria Vittoria Tamburini,
  • Valentina Arfilli,
  • Manuela Morotti,
  • Pasqualina Schiavone,
  • Francesco Congestrì,
  • Martina Manera,
  • Agnese Denicolò,
  • Martina Brandolini,
  • Francesca Taddei,
  • Laura Grumiro,
  • Silvia Zannoli,
  • Giorgio Dirani,
  • Alessandra Mistral De Pascali,
  • Vittorio Sambri,
  • Monica Cricca

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010153
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 153

Abstract

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Candida spp. are an important opportunistic pathogen that can represent a possible cause of severe infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The clinical impact of Candida spp. depends, in part, on the ability to form biofilms, communities of nestled cells into the extracellular matrix. In this study, we compared the biofilm formation ability of 83 strains of Candida spp. isolated from blood cultures and other materials, such as respiratory samples, urine, and exudate, and their sensitivity to fluconazole (FLZ). Strains were divided into tertiles to establish cut-offs to classify isolates as low, moderate, or high biofilm producers (0.839) and biofilms with low, moderate, or high metabolic activity (0.183). A non-linear relationship between biofilm production and metabolic activity was found in C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. In addition, the increase in minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBEC50) compared to the Minor Inhibitory Concentration (PMIC) of the planktonic form in Candida spp. confirms the role of biofilm in the induction of resistance to FLZ.

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