Resumo

Candida species are of great importance due the high frequency with which colonize and infect the human host. The yeast can cause candidiasis that can vary from a relatively mild skin mycoses to life-threatening systemic disease known as candidemia or hematogenous candidiasis. In this study we aimed to evaluate the frequency and distribution of Candida species obtained from blood cultures in the Hospital Universitário de Londrina, from January 2010 to December 2011. The presumptive identification of isolates was performed by the CHROMagar® Candida medium. Definitive identification was performed by using a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assay and species-specific forward primers. We also analyzed the risk factors and underlying diseases associated with the hematogenous candidiasis considered in this study. A total of 68 episodes of candidemia occurred within 2 years. Non-albicans Candida species accounted for 72.1% of the isolates. The isolates were distributed as follows: C. tropicalis (29.4%), C. albicans (27.9%), C. parapsilosis (22.1%), C. glabrata (11.8%), and C. spp. (8.8%). These yeasts were isolated in predominantly male patients (63.2%), adults 36-60 years (29.8%) and seniors over 60 years (28.1%). Several risk factors appeared to be associated with episodes of candidemia, highlighting the previous antibiotic use (96.5%), venous access (89.5%), the use of mechanical ventilation (77.2%), hospitalization in intensive care unit (75.4%), the use of urinary catheter (73.7%) and surgery non-abdominal (57.9%). Among the underlying diseases, the most frequent were respiratory tract disease (78.9%), cardiovascular disease (42.1%), gastrointestinal tract disease (40.3%) and renal failure (31.6%). C. albicans was most frequent among neonates (57.1%). Differently, C. glabrata was predominance in adults (87.5%). Between 2010 and 2011 the number of cases was similar, 27 and 30, respectively. However, in the latter year, we observed episodes of candidemia in burned patients. Continued vigilance is needed to assess trends in this institution and enable allowance to practices for appropriate therapy and prophylaxis.