CANDIDEMIA IN A CANADIAN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL FROM 1976 TO 1996

The incidence of candidemia was reviewed at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Canada, over a 21-year period (1976 to 1996). Candida sp ecies were identified as bloodstream isolates in significantly (p < 0. 05) higher numbers from 1991 to 1996 than in the previous 15 years. An tifungal susceptibilities remained unchanged with Candida albicans iso lates tested from 1985 to 1996. Retrospective chart reviews revealed t hat all patients with candidemia possessed at least two risk factors. The main risk factors identified were recent or concurrent antibiotic therapy (95% of patients), presence of a central line (93% of patients ), and immunosuppression (88% of patients). Treatment generally involv ed amphotericin B therapy (81% of patients), and death occurred in 52% of the patients. Mortality directly attributable to Candida species c ould be established in 23% of patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.