Abstract
The rising incidence of fungal infections and the increasing prevalence of antifungal resistance highlight the need for rapid and reliable diagnostic methods. This study investigates the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to identify spectroscopic markers of drug resistance in selected Candida strains. In this pilot study, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyse the biochemical composition of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida dubliniensis isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antifungals were determined using antifungals concentration gradient strips, and the spectral data were processed to identify differences between resistant and sensitive isolates. Based on the results for Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida dubliniensis, specific ATR-FITR spectroscopic markers of drug resistance were identified, which highlighted the necessity for these markers to be antifungal-specific. Despite the limitations of the study, the findings underscore the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in identifying spectroscopic markers of antifungal resistance. These preliminary results provide a foundation for further research, which could lead to the development of rapid diagnostic tools for detecting drug-resistant Candida strains, thereby improving the management and treatment of fungal infections.