Fungal urinary tract infections in patients at risk

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Fungal urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a significant risk, particularly in severely ill patients.
• Increasing incidence linked to broad-spectrum antimicrobials, immunosuppressants, and other risk factors like diabetes and renal failure.
• Risk factors include advanced age, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, hemodialysis, renal transplantation, and urinary tract abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the etiology, risk factors, and outcomes of fungal UTIs in hospitalized patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of systemic antifungal therapy in treating funguria.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 50 hospitalized symptomatic patients with funguria (> 10(5) CFU/ml) and leucocyturia.
• Identification of causative fungal species, including Candida albicans, non-albicans Candida species, and non-Candida yeasts.
• Treatment with systemic antifungals and assessment of patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Candida albicans was the most common pathogen (36/50 patients).
• Non-albicans Candida and non-Candida yeasts were identified in 14 patients.
• An overall cure rate of 84% (42/50) was achieved with systemic antifungal therapy.

Conclusions:

• Systemic antifungal treatment is crucial for managing fungal UTIs.
• High cure rates support the consideration of systemic antifungals in high-risk patients with fungal UTIs.