Changes in the Distribution of Candida Species Isolated from the Hemocultures of Patients in the Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, Venezuela

• Main Authors: Belinda Calvo, Luzmila Mesa, Armindo Perozo, Maritza Pineda, Haydée Beltrán
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad del Zulia,Facultad de Medicina,Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales 2010
• Subjects: candida; candidemia; hemocultivos; Venezuela; Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/ebd79358ae0f4ed9affff218dc922fa2

The epidemiology of candidemia in the Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo (SAHUM) was studied. From January 2008 to March 2010, 78 candidemia episodes from 70 patients were analyzed. Ages ranged from 15 days to 80 years old. Patients were hospitalized in different wards at SAHUM. Candida spp was isolated in blood cultures processed at the Bacteriology Reference Center (CRB). For species identification, chromogenic Brilliance Candida Agar and Vitek-YBC were used. Additionally, the cultures were evaluated by traditional methods at the Mycology Laboratory, University of Zulia. Patients’ characteristics were obtained from the CRB register. The median patients’ age was 17 years old. Eight sequential isolates were obtained. The following Candida species were found:, C. parapsilosis 51.28%, C. tropicalis 15.38%, C. guilliermondii 11.54%, C. albicans 10.26%, C. famata 6.41%, C. glabrata 3.85% and Candida krusei 1.28%. X2 showed that children in non-ICU wards were more likely to have candidemia. A change in the frequency of the species isolated was observed; for this reason, a permanent surveillance system is required.