title: Nosocomial candidaemia in a Finnish tertiary care centre during 1987-2004.
abstract: We studied the epidemiology of nosocomial candidaemia by assessing the incidence and outcome of illness and causative species in a large Finnish tertiary care centre during 1987-2004. A total of 364 episodes were observed; annual incidence varied between 0.26 per 10,000 patient-d in 2000 and 0.59 in 1989. The most common species were C. albicans (65%), C. parapsilosis (13%), and C. glabrata (9%). The proportion of C. albicans decreased from 71% during 1987-1992 to 58% during 1999-2004, and C. glabrata increased from 3% to 14%, respectively. The proportion of intensive care patients increased from 27% during 1987-1992 to 44% by 1999-2004, associated with neonates and surgical patients. The 1-month case fatality ranged from 30% to 33%. Nosocomial candidaemias did not increase, but the distribution of Candida spp. changed. Mortality remained high. The observed changes may reflect differences in prevention strategies that need to be explored for further improvements in prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Peijas Hospital, Vantaa, Finland. eira.poikonen@hus.fi
authors.forename: Eira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poikonen
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lyytikäinen
authors.forename: Veli-Jukka
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Anttila
authors.forename: Pentti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuusela
authors.forename: Pirkko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koukila-Kähkölä
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ollgren
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruutu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult