Fungal Infection in Critically III Patients

An increased incidence of Candida infection has been documented during the last decade and fungi have appeared as significant nosocomial pathogens in intensive care. Disseminated candidiasis is no longer characteristic only for patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. In the European Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care (EPIC) study, fungal isolates were found in 17% of patients, and 50% were treated with antifungal therapy [1]. Infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, however, are predominantly endogenous, and candidiasis accounts for nearly 80% of these infections and for — 10% of positive blood cultures. Candida spp. is the fifth most common microorganism found in blood cultures and the seventh most common pathogen in nosocomial infection [2–4].