Genotyping, drug resistance and virulence factors of Candida species isolated from patients using long-term inhaled steroids.

In asthma patients using long-term inhaled steroids, both Isolation rates of Candida species, drug resistance rates, presence of virulence genes were found to be significantly higher in patients than in the control group. We think that this may be due to the suppression of cellular immunity by long-term steroid use.