[Study on candida infections in intensive care unit from 2008 to 2012].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and analyze the candida infection situation at the intensive care unit (ICU) in Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from 2008 to 2012.


METHODS
Critically ill patients admitted in ICU Department in Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from Jan. 2008 to Dem. 2012 were selected, and candida in all blood, sputum and other specimens of patients, were tested. Data on the following items as:hospital sections and distribution of candida infection on the places where the fungus was identified, distribution of different species of candida, antifungal drug resistance of candidates commonly used in ICU department in the last five years etc., were statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
Among 4 529 cases of critically ill patients stayed in the hospital ICU Department between 2008 and 2012, 76 cases of candida infection were identified, with the rate as 1.68%. In the past five years, candida in hospital ICU was mainly detected in sputum samples in 52 cases which accounted for 68.4%. Another 9 cases were detected in blood, accounted for 11.8%, 8 cases were detected in urine, which accounted for 10.5% , 36 cases (47.4%) of candida infection detected at the hospital ICU department in the last 5 years with major species as Candida albicans infection, followed by Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Portugal Candida. The highest rate of resistance was to itraconazole, with a resistance rate of 19.7%, followed by voriconazole, with the rate as 15.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
In recent years, the number of patients infected with candida at the ICU department had increased annually with most cases as respiratory infections, which were caused by Candida albicans. The rate of resistance of candida to itraconazole was the highest, which called for special attention.
Department of ICU, Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Tianjin 300140, China. Email: liujunling1123@126.com.
Junling
J
Liu
Department of ICU, Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Tianjin 300140, China.
Heyuan
H
Sun
Department of ICU, Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Tianjin 300140, China.
Shuying
S
Wang
D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units