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s Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 39 (2021) S1–S133 specimens were Candida albicans and Candida nonalbicans. Antifungal susceptibility pattern revealed maximum sensitivity to ketoconazole followed by fluconazole and itraconazole. Least sensitive antifungal was found to be amphotericin B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmmb.2021.08.353 IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF DERMATOPHYTES P. Neeshma, Sindhusuta Das, Laxmisha Chandrashekar, Rakesh Singh. JIPMER, Puducherry Background:Dermatophytes are a group of filamentous fungi which are able to damage and utilize keratin found in the skin, hair and nail. These cutaneous mycoses which are known as dermatophytosis affect 20% to 25% of the world’s population. Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time of flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) is an automated technique which is recently introduced for identification of microorganisms including dermatophyte species. There is limited study in India where MALDI-TOF is used for the identification of dermatophytes and antifungal susceptibility profile of dermatophytes is determined therefore the present study was planned. Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 17 dermatophytes isolateswhichwere stocked in theDepartmentofMicrobiology from September 2018 to December 2019. These were isolated from skin scrapings from patients of dermatophytosis visited dermatology out-patient department. These were revived and their species identificationwas donebyMALDI-TOFMSandAFST was performed forfluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafinebymicrobroth dilution method as per CLSI guidelines. This study was approved by Institute Ethics committee. Categorical data was expressed as percentages and median value. Results:Seventeen dermatophytes isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, of which 14 (82.3%) were Trichophyton interdigitale, 2 (11.7%) were Trichophyton tonsurans and 1 (5.8%) was Trichophyton rubrum. T. interdigitale showed MIC range of 4 to >64 μg/ml (MIC501⁄416) to fluconazole, 0.0313 to 1μg/ml (MIC501⁄40.25) to itraconazole, 0.0313 to >16μg/ml (MIC501⁄4>16) to terbinafine. T. tonsurans both strains showed MIC of >16μg/ml to fluonazole and terbinafine; and 0.25 and 1 μg/ml to itraconazole. T. rubrum showed MIC for fluonazole 4 μg/ml, itraonazole 0.5 μg/ml and terbinafine 0.5 μg/ml. Conclusions: T. interdigitale is the commonest dermatophyte found in this study and it is resistance to fluconazole and terbinafine and susceptible to itraconazole https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmmb.2021.08.351 CANDIDEMIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SPECIATION, ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS AND BIOFILM FORMATION R. Sathyakamala, B.T. Ambujavalli, Priyadarshini Shanmugam. Chettinad Academy of Research and Education Background:Candida species are yeast like fungi that form a part of the human microbiota. They are seen as normal flora in themouth, gastrointestinal tract, genito urinary tract, respiratory tract and skin. However they have the potential to cause invasive mycosis.They also colonise IV lines and cannulae and form biofilms that makes treatment difficult. Candidemia, a blood stream infection caused by Candida species, are themost commonformsof invasivecandidiasis.There are fewpointers to clinical suspicion like unresponsiveness to antibacterial agents , diabetes, stem cell transplant, patients on antibiotics, ICU stay, steroid therapy, immunosuppresants, prosthetic devices, presence of IV/central lines, urinary catheters, TPN, CRF etc. Methods:Candida species were isolated from blood cultures using conventional and automated (BACTEC) methods over a 4 month period from 20.06.2020 20.10.2020. Speciation was done using phenotypic methods, Biochemical tests, Vitek and confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The results of l Gram’s staining l Colony characteristics l growth and appearance by Dalmaus technique l growth in 6.5% NaCl l Temperature differentiation l Growth in the presence of Actidione l Production of Urease l Sugar assimilation were tabulated. Anti -fungal susceptibility testing was done in MHA with 2% glucose according to CLSI guidelines. Biofilm formation was demonstrated by micro-titre plate method. S102 Results:The results of the phenotypic tests Awaited. Species distribution using High Chrome Candida agar (FIGURE 1). Confirmation using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Results awaited. Confirmation of Candida auris, famata, connerii and 1 rare species by colony PCR Results awaited Biofilm production by Microtitre plate method and Anti-fungal susceptibility pattern Results awaited. Conclusions:This study throws light on the Candida species isolated in blood during the COVID19 pandemic, over a 4 month period in our institution along with their susceptibility patterns. The ability to form bio films which is the virulence factor needed for bloodstream/catheter associated fungemia is assessed in our study https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmmb.2021.08.352 A RARE CASE REPORT OF SUBCUTANEOUS PHAEOHYPHOMYCOSES BY RHYTIDHYSTERON RUFULUM R. Vidhya, S. Jayanthi, T. Kathir Subramanian, D. Danis Vijay, A. Sujhithra. Chettinad Academy of Research and Education Background:Phaeohyphomycosis is defined as subcutaneous and systemic or disseminated mycoses caused by heterogeneous groups of dematiaceous fungi. Rhytidhysteron rufulum is a phaeoid saprophytic fungal species, and is a rare