title: Candida glabrata among Candida spp. from environmental health practitioners of a Brazilian Hospital.
abstract: The incidence of the species Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida was evaluated in a Brazilian Tertiary Hospital from the environment and health practitioners. In a 12-month period we had a total positivity of 19.65% of Candida spp. The most recurring non-albicans Candida species was C. glabrata (37.62%), generally considered a species of low virulence, but with a higher mortality rate than C. albicans. Subsequently, C. parapsilosis (25.74%) and C. tropicalis (16.86%) were the second and third most commonly isolated species. Considering the total samples collected from the emergency room and from the inpatient and the pediatric sector, 19.10% were positive for Candida spp., with the predominance of non-albicans Candida species (89.42%). The high percentage of positivity occurred in the hands (24.32%) and the lab coats (21.88%) of the health care assistants. No sample of C. albicans presented a profile of resistance to the drugs. All the non-albicans Candida species presented a decreased susceptibility to miconazole and itraconazole, but they were susceptible to nystatin. Most of the isolates were susceptible to fluconazole and amphotericin B. As expected, a high resistance rate was observed in C. glabrata and C. krusei, which are intrinsically less susceptible to this antifungal agent. The contamination of environmental surfaces by Candida spp. through hand touching may facilitate the occurrence of Candida infections predominantly in immunocompromised patients. In addition to that, the antifungal agents used should be carefully evaluated considering local epidemiologic trends in Candida spp. infections, so that therapeutic choices may be better guided.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savastano
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Silva
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lindyanne Lemos
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Naiara Chaves
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology Department, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: amandaltdias@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amanda Latercia Tranches
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Antifungal drugs; Candida glabrata; Candida spp.; Hospital environment; Non-albicans Candida species