Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases (Jan 2012)

Candidemia in a brazilian tertiary hospital: microbiological and clinical features over a six-year period

  • AL Mondelli,
  • L Niéro-Melo,
  • E Bagagli,
  • CH Camargo,
  • A Bruder-Nascimento,
  • MF Sugizaki,
  • MV Carneiro,
  • PJF Villas Boas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992012000200015
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 2
pp. 244 – 252

Abstract

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Yeasts are becoming a common cause of nosocomial fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. Such infections often develop into sepsis with high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the numerous factors associated with the development of candidemia. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed of 98 Candida spp. patients. Results showed that the most prevalent risk factors for developing candidemia were: antibiotics and antifungal agents (93.9% and 79.6%, respectively); the use of central venous catheter (93.9%); mechanical ventilation (73.5%); and parenteral nutrition (60.2%). The main species of Candida found were: C. parapsilosis (37.76%), C. albicans (33.67%); and others (28.57%). C. glabrata showed the highest mortality rate (75%), followed by C. tropicalis (57.1%) and C. albicans (54.5%). The elevated mortality rate found in this study indicates that preventive measures against candidemia must be emphasized in hospitals.

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