Original Research

Unveiling the Clinical Correlation between Candida Tropicalis Presence, Symptomatology and Urinary Yeast Quantification in Diabetic Patients

Sidra Anwar1
Hameed Latif Hospital, Misirishah branch, Lahore
Muhammad Kamran Rauf2
Fatima Memorial Hospital/College of Medicine and Dentistry, Shadman, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Ahmad Raza Butt1
Hameed Latif Hospital, Misirishah branch, Lahore
Fatima Shahid2
Fatima Memorial Hospital/College of Medicine and Dentistry, Shadman, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Muaaz Sikandar2
Fatima Memorial Hospital/College of Medicine and Dentistry, Shadman, Lahore, Pakistan
Ahmad Anwar3
University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

✉ Correspondence: Sidra Anwar Email: sidraanwar45751@import.invalid

DOI https://doi.org/10.70302/jpsim.v7i1.2610
Volume: 7, Issue 1 Pages: 47–51 Published: 10 Mar 2026
Received: 28 Nov 2025 Revised: 13 Jan 2026 Accepted: 18 Feb 2026 Published Online: 10 Mar 2026

Abstract

Objective

This study investigates the association between candiduria and diabetes mellitus, focusing on the presence of fungal elements in urine, associated symptoms, and the most prevalent Candida species in diabetic patients. It also provides a basis for comparing Vitek with advanced molecular techniques.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care setting in Pakistan involved 116 participants recruited through non-probability sampling. The diagnostic workup for urinary tract infections was urinalysis and urine culture and sensitivity. The VITEK 2 System was used for the identification of Candida species and to assess their antifungal susceptibility.

Results

Involving 116 participants, 36 (31%) males and 80 (69%) females, urine analysis revealed Escherichia coli 56 (48.3%), Enterococcus faecium 16 (13.8%), Candida tropicalis 6 (5.2%), and 38 (32.8%) with no growth. Common symptoms included fever, dysuria, urgency, and lower abdominal pain. The frequency distribution of yeast levels in the study reveals that in many cases, 61 (52.6%) were categorized as "NILL," indicating no yeast presence. "MODERATE" yeast levels were observed in 28 (24.1%) cases, "MANY" in 25 (21.6%), and "FEW" in 2 (1.7%). Chi-square analyses showed no significant association between yeast frequency and gender (χ² = 2.32, p = 0.510), lower abdominal pain (χ² = 1.29, p = 0.733), or urgency to urinate (χ² = 0.39, p = 0.942). However, significant associations were observed with fever (χ² = 11.27, p = 0.010) and dysuria (χ² = 9.98, p = 0.019). Likelihood ratio and linear-by-linear association tests supported these findings.

Conclusion

High prevalence UTIs are common in patients (especially in females) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of Candida species, particularly Candida tropicalis, in our study highlights diverse uropathogens in diabetics; otherwise, Candida albicans is the most prevalent organism causing UTIs. Fungal UTIs in the elderly present challenges. With SGLT2 inhibitors emerging as a major risk factor for fungal urinary infections, it is crucial to consider this complication, especially in patients with cardiovascular disease. The Vitek technique offers a reliable, fast, and cost-effective method in low-income countries.

Keywords
Diabetes Mellitus Urinary tract infection Uropathogens prevalence VITEK

How to Cite This Article

Anwar S, Rauf MK, Butt MAR, Shahid F, Sikandar MM, Anwar A. Unveiling the Clinical Correlation between Candida Tropicalis Presence, Symptomatology and Urinary Yeast Quantification in Diabetic Patients. J Pak Soc Intern Med. 2026;7(1):47–51. doi:10.70302/jpsim.v7i1.2610

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosed in accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines.

Funding

No specific funding was received for this research.

Funder information follows the Crossref Funder Registry standard.

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CC BY CC BY 4.0 This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. May be shared and adapted with attribution. © 2026 Journal of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine.
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