A Study of the Trend in Prevalence of Opportunistic Candidal Co-infections among Patients of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Five hundred clinical specimens of sputa, bronchial aspirations, and pleural effusions were collected from hospitalized tuberculous patients for the isolation of Candida species. The patients were categorized in two groups. Group A included tuberculous patients having some complications like nonsubsiding fever, marked cough and persistence of other symptoms in spite of taking antituberculous treatment. Group B included turberculous patients having no complications. The Candida species were isolated and identified on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. Candida species were isolated from 15.2% (76/500) specimens. The incidence rate of Candidal co-infection was higher in Group A patients (16.1%) as compared to Group B patients (13.8%). Among the Candida species, Candida tropicalis (8.4%) predominated over Candida albicans (6.8%). Furthermore, the incidence of Candidal infection was higher in male patients (16.3%) as compared to female patients (13.9%).