title: Secular trends in the epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections in the United States, 1980-1990. National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System.
abstract: To identify pathogens causing nosocomial fungal infections and the secular trend in their incidence in US hospitals, data from the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, 1980-1990, were analyzed. During that period, 30,477 fungal infections were reported. The rate rose from 2.0 to 3.8 infections/1000 discharges. The highest number of nosocomial fungal infections/1000 discharges was reported from the burn/trauma service (16.1). Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated fungal pathogen (59.7%), followed by other Candida species (18.6%). The rate increased at all four major anatomic sites of infection. Patients with bloodstream infections who had a central intravascular catheter were more likely to have a fungal pathogen isolated than were other patients with bloodstream infection (relative risk = 3.2; P < .001): 29% of fungemia patients and 17% of patients with bloodstream infection due to other pathogens died during hospitalization (P < .001). Fungi are emerging as important nosocomial pathogens and control efforts should target fungal infections, especially fungemia.
authors: Hospital Infectious Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Beck-Sagué
authors: W R
authors: WR
authors: Jarvis
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology