Prevalence of Candida spp. in hospitalized patients and their risk factors

• Published in: Mycoses Vol. 45; no. 7-8; pp. 306 - 312
• Main Authors: Pinho Resende, J. C., De Resende, M. A., Saliba, J. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Germany Blackwell Verlag GmbH 01.10.2002; Blackwell
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Candida - classification; Candida - isolation & purification; Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Candida tropicalis; Candidiasis - epidemiology; Candidiasis - microbiology; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Female; Hospitalization; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous mycoses; Mycoses; nosocomial infections; nosokamiale Infektionen; Prevalence; Risikofaktoren; Risk Factors; Serotyp; serotype; Serotyping; Human; Origin; Nosocomial infection; Candidiasis; Prevalence; Mycosis; Microbiology; Epidemiology; Fungi; Infection; Microbiological investigation; Etiology; Candida; Risk factor; Hospital ward; Fungi Imperfecti; Localization; Child; Clinical isolate; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0933-7407; 1439-0507
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0507.2002.00763.x

A total of 133 Candida spp. strains originating from a group of 100 patients from Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between March 1995 and December 1996, were first identified and classified into six different species: Candida albicans (51%), C. tropicalis (33%), C. parapsilosis (8%), C. glabrata (5%), C. krusei (2%) and C. guilliermondii (1%). All C. albicans strains were serotyped and 55% of these were found to belong to serotype A and 45% belonging to serotype B. The medical records of each patient were examined to characterise and survey the main risk factors associated with them. Most of the patients were between 60‐ and 80‐years‐old, 53% were males and 47% were females. Most patients were from the intensive care unit (ICU). Only 10 patients were not exposed to antimicrobial agents and 72 patients were not prescribed antifungal agents. Forty patients showed no other clinical condition and all showed some underlying disease that justified hospitalization. Eighty‐seven patients had undergone some invasive procedure and 31 patients had been submitted to two different procedures simultaneously. Zusammenfassung.  Eine Gesamtzahl von 133 Candida spp.–Proben von einer Gruppe von 100 Patienten des Krankenhauses ‘Casa de Misericórdia’ in Belo Horizonte – wurde im Zeitraum zwischen März 1995 und Dezember 1996 identifiziert und sechs Arten zugeordnet: Candida albicans (51%), Candida tropicalis (33%), C. parapsilosis (8%), C. glabrata (5%), C. krusei (2%) und C. guilliermondii (1%). Alle C. albicans–Proben wurden serotypisiert, und 55% wurden als Serotyp A und 45% als Serotyp B identifiert. Die ärztlichen Protokolle wurden analysiert, um die wichtigsten Risikofaktoren festzustellen und zu überwachen. Die meisten der Patienten waren zwischen 60 und 80 Jahre alt, 53% waren Männer und 47% Frauen. Die überwiegende Zahl der Patienten wurde auf der Intensivstation behandelt. Nur10 Patienten wurden nícht antibakteriell behandelt, und 72 Patienten bekamen keine antimykotische Therapie. Vierzig Patienten wiesen keine anderen klinischen Probleme auf, alle litten an einer Krankheit, die die Hospitalisierung erforderlich machte. Bei 87 Patienten waren invasive Eingriffe vorgenommen worden, bei 31 Patienten zwei unterschiedliche Eingriffe gleichzeitig.