Etiology of fungaemia and catheter colonisation in Argentinean paediatric patients

Mycoses. 2006 Jan;49(1):49-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2005.01184.x.

Abstract

Yeast strains obtained from blood cultures and catheters from intensive care units (ICU) and hospitalised oncology paediatrics were studied. Yeast were the first cause of catheter colonisation (51/627), and the third cause of bloodstream infection (44/6065). In catheter, the most frequent species were Candida albicans (34%), C. parapsilosis (27.7%) and C. tropicalis (15%). In blood, C. albicans (40.8%), C. parapsilosis (26.6%), C. tropicalis (15%). Malassezia furfur and Malassezia sympodialis were isolated from catheters from ICU patients. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, 88.8% to itraconazole and 91.9% to fluconazole. Candida albicans and C. tropicalis strains resistant to fluconazole and itraconazol were detected. These results reveal a change in the predominant role of C. albicans as cause of candidemia in hospitalised children and the emergence of antifungal resistant species. These variations emphasise the importance of performing a permanent surveillance to observe and assess them.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Argentina / epidemiology
  • Candida / drug effects
  • Candida / isolation & purification*
  • Catheterization*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Fluconazole / pharmacology
  • Fungemia / epidemiology*
  • Fungemia / microbiology
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Intensive Care Units, Pediatric
  • Itraconazole / pharmacology
  • Malassezia / drug effects
  • Malassezia / isolation & purification*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Itraconazole
  • Amphotericin B
  • Fluconazole