Candidemia in a Brazilian hospital: the importance of Candida parapsilosis

• Main Authors: Medrano Delia Jessica Astete, Brilhante Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira, Cordeiro Rossana de Aguiar, Rocha Marcos Fábio Gadelha, Rabenhorst Silvia Helena Barem, Sidrim José Júlio Costa
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2006
• Subjects: Candidemia; Candida species; Epidemiology; C. parapsilosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/292b16a915094d32948744bd80707a23

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.