Epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from blood: results of a 2-year multicentre study in Spain

Abstract

This study, included in the prospective survey of candidaemia in Europe supported by the European Confederation of Medical Mycology, presents the epidemiological and antifungal susceptibility results of 290 cases of candidaemia (80 in children andida albicans (46/36.2), C. parapsilosis (21.9/50), C. tropicalis (12.8/3.75), and C. glabrata (10.1/5). As initial therapy, fluconazole was preferred in adults (54%) and liposomal amphotericin B in children (58%). The 30-day mortality rate was 40.6%, and the species most frequently associated with a fatal outcome was C. krusei (60%). The rates of susceptibility to antifungal agents were as follows: amphotericin B, 91%; flucytosine, 99%; fluconazole, 93.6%; itraconazole, 87.4%; and voriconazole, 92%. These results provide baseline data for future epidemiological and susceptibility studies and for evaluating the impact of new antifungal agents on the distribution of species and the mortality rates associated with candidaemia in Spain.