title: Emerging and reemerging microbial threats. Nosocomial fungal infections.
abstract: The incidence of nosocomial fungal infections had been increasing steadily for the past 25 years. Although they were once believed to be of little clinical consequence, there is now compelling evidence that fungal agents represent a bona fide microbial threat with substantial morbidity and high mortality. Reporting on a series of 30447 nosocomial fungal infections that occurred in the decade from 1980 to 1990, Beck-Sague and Jarvis noted increases in incidence from 90% to 175%. Infection rates rose from 2.0 per 1000 discharges to as high as 6.6 infections per 1000 discharges. Fungal infections increased at all major anatomic sites, including surgical wounds, lung, urinary tract, and bloodstream. Candida species accounted for 78.3% of nosocomial fungal infections, while torulopsis species and aspergillus species accounted for 7.3% and 1.3%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis-East Bay, Oakland, USA.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hirvela
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy