Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiabá--Mato Grosso, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Fungal infections are emerging as an important cause of human disease, especially among hospitalized patients with serious underlying disease and several risk factors.

AIMS: To evaluate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiabá - MT, Brazil.

METHODS: A descriptive study of 91 patients admitted to university hospitals in Cuiabá - MT, with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of nosocomial candidiasis, over a 20-month period.

RESULTS: A rate for nosocomial infections by Candida spp. of 5 per 1000 admissions, proportional mortality of 14.4% and lethality of 53.8% were determined. The patient age ranged from 29 days to 82 years-old, among which, 74.7% were adults and 25.3% children. The intensive care units contributed with the highest number of cases of infection by Candida spp. (69.2%). The most important underlying disease was gastrointestinal tract disease (11%). Prematurity and low birth weight were the most important risk factors among newborns. The use of antibiotics, invasive procedures, H(2) blockers, multiple blood transfusions and stay length of ≥21 days were the most frequent risk factors among adults. Candida albicans was the most common species in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, C. albicans was the most frequently detected species in candidiasis and risk factors increased the susceptibility of hospitalized patients to acquiring a nosocomial infection by Candida spp.