Mostly candida resides as an opportunistic organism on epithelial surfaces of human being. However, under auspicious conditions can cause infections including serious life threatening invasive candidiasis with subsequent mortality particularly in immune deficit and hospitalized patients having co-morbids. Limited data are published on the prevalence of candidiasis, based on the researches conducted at few tertiary care settings which are not representing the overall disease burden in our country, Pakistan. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the frequency and sensitivity patterns of candidiasis in our community. Methods: Out of total 1020 specimens, 130 clinical samples were identified as candidal positive, obtained from March to May 2018. These samples were isolated from vagina, oropharynx, urine, tracheal aspirates, pus, blood, tips of the intubations, wounds and fluids of the body cavities. Identification of candida, its species and antifungal sensitivity screening was done by Kirby Bauer's disk diffusion method according to CLSI guide lines' (M-44 A2 series, 2009). Results: A significant majority, 80 (61.5%) of candidal strains were isolated from females with female to male ratio 8:5 and most of these isolates were obtained from high vaginal swabs (43.75%). Four candidal species (Candida albicans 80%, Candida tropicalis 10%, Candida glabrata 9.2% and Candida ciferrii 0.8%) were isolated from all positive specimens. Maximum number of the positive samples 52 (40%) were obtained from ICU patients. Sensitivity test of candidal positive samples revealed that commonly used azole antifungal drugs, fluconazole and voriconazole were highly resistant, with respective 57.7% and 70.8% resistance. Conclusion: Candidiasis is highly prevalent in our clinical set up and more frequently infecting females in comparison to males as most of the positive isolates were retrieved from HVS (high vaginal swabs). Still, C. albicans was found to be the most preva

Aim: Candida, an opportunistic organism is one of the commonest causes of hospital acquired infections among fungi. Currently available antifungal drugs have numerous adverse effects and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) along with increase in resistance over the time. Therefore, it is highly emergent to consider alternative treatments for candidal infections, having fewer adverse effects and is cost-effective. The current in-vitro study is undertaken to assess and compare the antifungal effects of the herbs, Berberis aristata (B. aristata, Darehald/Darhald) and Punica granatum (P. granatum, Pomegranate) with fluconazole and voriconazole, based on culture and sensitivity of candidal isolates. Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extracts of herbs (Berberis aristata and Punica granatum) and concentrations were formulated as per standard procedure. 130 samples were obtained for the study from in and out patients reported in clinical subsets of Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi from March to May, 2018. Samples were collected and grown according to the standard procedures like, wet mount test and gram's staining. Species were identified by CHROM agar candida and API 20 C AUX methods. Sensitivity tests were performed by Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method according to CLSI guide lines M-44 A2, 2009. Data analysis was done by one-way ANOVA to compare the antifungal activities of drugs and herbs. Results: Mean inhibitory zones of herbs, B. aristata and P. granatum were highly significant against clinical candidal isolates with respective p-values of 0.00 and 0.02. Both of the herbs, B. aristata and P. granatum were found to be more sensitive, 98.5% and 97.7% respectively in comparison to fluconazole showing 42.3% and voriconazole showing 29.2% sensitivity against candidal isolates. The most resistant candidal specie was C. tropicalis that showed