Background: During recent years, fungalinfections mainly yeast infections have raised exponentially leading to morbidityand mortality.Though Candida albicans was the predominant species, we are now encountering non– albicans Candida species (NAC) which are more pathogenic and highly antifungal resistant.

Aim: Tostudy the prevalence and antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeast isolates in a tertiary care centre, south Kerala.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed one and half year data obtained from different patients admitted to different departments.The clinical samples of patients were processed in Department of Microbiology for isolationand identification of fungi by using standard protocols over a period of one and half year data. The demographic data and risk factors for yeasts were evaluated.

Results: Out off 249 non–repeated yeast species, 90.76% were identified as Candida species and 9.23% (n=23) as non–Candida yeast species. C.albicans was the common isolate. We found a shift to Non albicans Candida (NAC). The clinical significance is emergence of NAC species with more pathogenecity and high level anti–fungal resistance.

Discussion:Our study reported 90.76% of Candida isolates and 9.2% of other yeast species.

Though C.albicans is the most common yeast, NAC group is slowly emerging as a virulent pathogen with multi– drug resistance.

Conclusion:Knowledge of epidemiology and anti–fungal pattern enables the clinicians to start the appropriate therapy and thereby decrease the morbidity and mortality.