[Candida]

The incidence of candidiasis has steadily increased with the number of patients with opportunistic infection. Candidiasis is often observed in patients with leukemia, malignant lymphoma and aplastic anemia, all of whom show immunodeficiency. Factors contributing to the increased incidence of candida infections include the overuse of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, and the prolonged survival of patients with immunodeficiency. Candida is a major causative organism of nosocomial infection, as are P. aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The number isolated was greater in the order of C. albicans > C. glabrata > C. tropicalis > C. parapsilosis > C. krusei. C. albicans, which was detected most frequency, was isolated from 60-70% of all samples every year. Isolated frequencies of C. albicans were 66-77% from sputum, 43-70% from urine, and 62-72% from vaginal swabs. In regard to annual changes in deep-seated candidiasis among autopsied cases, the incidence reached a peak in the 1985 to 1988 period, and thereafter decreased. The number of cases with infection of the stomach was largest, followed by the esophagus, the lung and kidney. These cases with deep-seated candidiasis showed low values or levels of lymphocyte, neutrophil, hemoglobin, hemoglobin total protein and total cholesterol.