Abstract
Although there are limited numerous reports of candidemia in adults, data on paediatrics are stil limeted. The aim of the present study was to compare the aetiology and risk factors of nosocomial candidemia among the paediatric and adults in our hospital. This study includes the patients hospitalised and diagnosed as fungemia at Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital between June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2009 whose blood cultures sent to our microbiology laboratory. After fungal growth was observed in blood cultures, the yeast cells were inoculated onto Saboraud glucose agar. The colonies were identified by conventional yeast identification methods and ID 32C yeast identification system according to the manifacturer's instructions. During this period 51 paediatric and 69 adults were studied. The most common yeast form was Candida albicans (43.3%) followed by C. parapsilosis (25.0%) and C. tropicalis (17.5%). Although the non-albicans Candida species represent more than half (56.7%) of all candidemic cases C. albicans was the most common frequent etiologic agent. There was no statistically significant difference between patient age (paediatric and adult) and distribution of Candida species (p>0.05) Neoplasia (in adults) and prematurity (in paediatrics) were the main underlying diseases. Predisposing factors and mortality rates were not different among paediatrics and adults. We reinforce the necessity of continous epidomiologic surveillance to follow the dynamics of candidemia.
Highlights
The incidence of the nosocomial fungal infections has increased over the past two decades
The non-albicans Candida species represent more than half (56.7%) of all candidemic cases C. albicans was the most common frequent etiologic agent
Nosocomial candidemia was defined as the presence of at least one blood culture positive for Candida obtained from a peripheral vein in a patient admitted for more than 72 h in association with temporally related signs and symptoms
Summary
The incidence of the nosocomial fungal infections has increased over the past two decades. Candida spp. have become the fourth most common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections [1,2,3]. During this period, the isolation rate of non-albicans Candida spp. has increased as well. Several studies have determined the risk factors fungal infections. These risk factors include the length of stay in the intensive care unit, the use of intravascular catheters, malignancy, surgical operations, chemotherapy, antimicrobial agents and steroid use [2, 5,6,7,8,9]
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