A STUDY ON CANDIDIASIS IN AN INTENSIVE-CA RE UNIT

The risk of being infected by candidiasis in an Intensive Care Unit (I CU) is evaluated, using an algorithm which allows the establishment of an early fungicidal treatment. This is a study which includes 34 pati ents with a mortality of 35%. Yeasts are detected from the second week at ICU, related with the long stay of patients at ICU and the relatio nship between mortality and age. The first positive sample usually doe s not indicate disseminate candidiasis (9%) or a positive blood cultur e (6%). Population defined as high risk for disseminated candidiasis ( HRDC) with a negative blood culture has the worst prognosis (18 cases, 50% mortality rate). The six cases with HRDC with positive blood cult ure showed a mortality of 17%. In seven cases there were no HRDC crite ria (mortality of 14%). With said study the existence or not of a HRDC could be determined, establishing the adequate antifungal treatment.