[Prevalence and sensitivity of Candida albicans in cultures obtained at an oncologic hospital]

Prevalence Candida infections have increased and oncologic patients have risk factors for contacting them. They are associated with a long hospital stay and high mortality rate. Candida resistance to antifungal drugs has been reported.

To determine the prevalence of Candida grown in cultures from oncologic patients. To identify isolated species and to determine C albicans sensitivity to antifungal drugs.

During one year, different species of Candida spp. were isolated. They were inoculated in API-C-20 at 48 h. and cultivated in RPMI-1640.

Cultures of 5,820 patients were collected, 66.68% from outpatients and 33% from hospitalized patients. Candida spp grew in 394 Candida albicans obtained from 81 cultures was the most frequent species (46.3%). One hundred were susceptible to Amphotericin B, 63% to Fluconazol, 59% to Ketoconazol and 31% to Itraconazol. Candidemia accounted for 24.6% of bloodstream infections.

C. albicans had significant resistance to imidazoles and 100% were susceptible to Amphotericin B. Identification of species and susceptibility of Candida infections a useful tools because of the high proportion of Candida non-albicans species (53.7%). Candidemia accounted for 5.076% of the infections.