SHORT REPORT Bloodstream yeast infections: a 15-month survey

SUMMARY A 15-month survey of 412 bloodstream yeast isolates from 54 Belgian hospitals was undertaken. Candida albicans was the most common species (47 . 3%) followed by C. glabrata (25 . 7%), C. parapsilosis (8 . 0%), C. tropicalis (6 . 8%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (5 . 1 %). Common predisposing factors were antibacterial therapy (45 %), hospitalization in intensive care units (34 %), presence of in-dwelling catheters (32 %), underlying cancer (23 %) and major surgery (11 %). Most patients had more than one predisposing factor. Fluconazole alone or in combination with another antifungal agent was the treatment of choice for 86 . 6 % of the cases. Susceptibility testing revealed that 93 . 5 % were susceptible to amphotericin B, 39 . 6% to itraconazole, 42 . 8 % to fluconazole and 87 % to voriconazole. Resistance to azoles was more common among C. glabrata isolates.