Candidemia due to Candida tropicalis: clinical, epidemiologic, and microbiologic characteristics of 188 episodes occurring in tertiary care hospitals

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2007 May;58(1):77-82. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2006.11.009. Epub 2007 Mar 26.

Abstract

Candida tropicalis is the 2nd most frequent agent of candidemia in Brazil (20-24%). We attempted to characterize the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcome of candidemia due to C. tropicalis by comparing patients with candidemia due to C. tropicalis with those with candidemia due to Candida albicans. Among the 924 episodes of candidemia, 188 (20%) were caused by C. tropicalis. These cases were compared with 384 candidemias due to C. albicans. C. tropicalis was the 2nd most frequent species in adults (21.6%) and elderly patients (23.2%), and 3rd in neonates (11.9%) and children (18.5%). Cancer was the most frequent underlying disease, and in adults and elderly patients, diabetes was the 2nd most frequent underlying disease. The only difference between C. tropicalis and C. albicans candidemia was a higher proportion of neutropenic patients in C. tropicalis candidemia. C. tropicalis is a leading cause of candidemia in Brazil, and its epidemiology is similar to that of C. albicans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification
  • Candida albicans / pathogenicity
  • Candida tropicalis* / drug effects
  • Candida tropicalis* / isolation & purification
  • Candida tropicalis* / pathogenicity
  • Candidiasis* / epidemiology
  • Candidiasis* / microbiology
  • Candidiasis* / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fungemia* / epidemiology
  • Fungemia* / microbiology
  • Fungemia* / physiopathology
  • Hospitals, General*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / complications

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents