Candidemia in a Brazilian hospital: the importance of Candida parapsilosis.
The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of cases of candidemia in a Brazilian hospital in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. A total of 50 blood cultures were analyzed from 40 candidemic patients. The mycological diagnosis was based on the phenotypical analysis and the patients' data were recorded in appropriate files. The most frequent species were Candida parapsilosis (n = 18), followed by C. albicans (n = 14), C. tropicalis (n = 8), C. guillermondii (n = 6), C. glabrata (n = 2), and Candida spp. (n = 2). A detailed descriptive study was undertaken with 21 patients whose medical records were complete. The candidemia episodes occurred in eight male patients and 13 female patients. The most representative risk factors implicated in candidemia were prior antibiotic therapy, central venous catheters, parenteral nutrition, gastric probes and mechanical ventilation. Death occurred in 13 of the 21-candidemic patients. This study demonstrated the emergence of candidemia caused by C. parapsilosis in a Brazilian hospital in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará.
Medical Mycology Specialized Center, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Delia Jessica Astete
DJ
Medrano
Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira
RS
Brilhante
Rossana de Aguiar
Rde A
Cordeiro
Marcos Fábio Gadelha
MF
Rocha
Silvia Helena Barem
SH
Rabenhorst
José Júlio Costa
JJ
Sidrim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors