EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF CANDIDA SPP. COLONIZATION IN CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PATIENTS

Candida infections involve multiple risk factors. Among the independen t risk factors identified, the degree of colonization of Candida spp. allows the prediction of subsequent severe candidosis in surgical pati ents. The aim of this study was to assess among 13 selected variables, those that would best predict the perioperative variation of the colo nization index (CI) of Candida spp. in cardiovascular surgical patient s. The colonization index took into account the number of sites coloni zed and the density of growth. The results showed that 56.8% of our pa tients were colonized perioperatively. A total of 116 isolates were id entified and Candida albicans accounted for 76.7% of the strains. Amon g the patients who developed post-surgical Candida infections, 57.1% h ad an increase of the CI early after the operation. By univariate anal ysis, three factors were significantly associated with an increase of the CI in patients after surgery: sex (female), the duration of centra l intravascular catheterization and the length of stay in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Epidemiological data could help predict t hose patients who are at risk of developing Candida infections.