[Antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. isolates from blood cultures in a five-year period (1997-2001)].
BACKGROUND
This retrospective study investigates the incidence of candidemia and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. isolates from blood cultures performed in the period from January 1997 to December 2001.


METHODS
Amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and flucytosine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the Sensititre YeastOne broth microdilution assay for the 53 isolates detected in the study period: C. parapsilosis (22), C. albicans (19), C. glabrata (5), C. krusei (3), C. tropicalis (2) and C. guilliermondii (2).


RESULTS
The incidence of candidemia was 0.25 episodes per 1000 admissions in the period studied. C. parapsilosis was present in 41.5% of cases, followed by C. albicans (35.8%), C. glabrata (9.4%), C. krusei (5.5%), C. tropicalis (3.7%) and C. guilliermondii (3.7%). Isolation of C. parapsilosis was significantly associated with the neonatal and pediatric ICU. None of the isolates presented an amphotericin B MIC > 1 micro g/ml. All the C. krusei isolates were resistant to fluconazole. Itraconazole resistance and dose-dependent fluconazole susceptibility was found in 80% of C. glabrata isolates. Only one C. parapsilosis isolate was resistant to flucytosine.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of candidemia in our hospital was low. C. parapsilosis was the most common species and was associated with neonatal and pediatric ICUs. Fluconazole and itraconazole resistance was only found among C. krusei and C. glabrata isolates, which accounted for 15% of the total Candida spp. isolated from blood cultures in our hospital.
Servicio de Microbiología. Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Juan Canalejo. A Coruña. España. tduran@canalejo.org
María Teresa
MT
Durán
David
D
Velasco
Delia
D
Canle
Rita
R
Moure
Rosa
R
Villanueva
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity
D000935:Antifungal Agents