[Phenotype and genotype characterization of Candida albicans strains isolated from patients hospitalized at the Children's Memorial Health Institute].

Phenotype and genotype analysis was prepared from Candida strains causing colonization and fungal infections in children hospitalized at The Children's Memorial Health Institute intensive care unit and oncology unit. We totally analyzed 117 C. albicans strains cultured from different clinical specimens received from 51 patients--oncology unit (26) and intensive care unit (25). Enzymatic activity was assessed by API ZYM bioMerieux. Strains were biotyped according to Williamson, Kurnatowska and Kurnatowski classification. Candida albicans isolates were RAPD typed. C. albicans strains causing colonization and fungal infections on those units released such enzymes like esterase lipasis, waline arylamidasis and phosphohydrolasis. The most frequent biotypes in group of patients oncological unit with fungal infections were biotype E (64.7%) and biotype C (26.6%) while in group of patients with colonized mucosa dominated biotypes: E (28.6%) and A (28.5%). Comparing with intensive care unit group patients, the most frequent biotype isolated among patients with fungal infection symptoms was biotype E (71.7%), while in mucosa colonization group C (35.5%) occurred as a dominating biotype. This study demonstrated clonal character of fungal infections among patients hospitalized in two units and considerable polymorphism among yeast strains: 23 pattern stripes in oncology unit and 28 pattern stripes in intensive care unit. What is more, yeast biotype determination allows showing frequent occurrence of virulence character of isolates received from infected patients in comparison with those received from colonized patients.