Hospital candidemia infection and related factors in intensive care units

Background: Candida-related infections are the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units and are increasing day by day. Aim: This study was carried out in a university hospital between May 2018 and May 2019 in order to determine candidemia, candiduria and related factors seen in intensive care units. Methods: A retrospective study included 38 patients who developed candidemia and were treated in intensive care for at least 72 hours. The data were presented as numbers and % and evaluated by chi-square test. Age, gender, history of surgical operation, presence of urinary catheter, presence of central venous catheter, history of blood transfusion, presence of hemodialysis, total parenteral nutritional status, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, malignancy and neutropenia were compared according to candida type and candiduria. Results: The incidence of candida was 3.03% among the patients followed in the intensive care unit during the years included in the study, and the most common candida type was Candida Albicans. Non-albicans candida strains were more common in patients with renal insufficiency. It was determined that candiduria developed more in adult patients than in newborns. Patients with diabetes and malignancies were also found to develop more candiduria. Conclusion: Considering that candidemia causes high morbidity, prolongs hospital stay, and increases hospital costs, it can be seen that the importance of studies to determine the risk factors of candidemia has increased.