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Hansenula anomala outbreak at a surgical intensive care unit: a search for risk factors

S Kalenic1, M Jandrlic, V Vegar

  • 1Institute of Clinical and Molecular Microbiology, Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center, Croatia. skalenic@mamef.mef.hr

European Journal of Epidemiology
|February 22, 2002
PubMed

Insights

An opportunistic fungus, Hansenula anomala, caused infections in surgical intensive care unit patients. Prolonged blood alkalosis was identified as a significant risk factor for these fungal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Hansenula anomala (H. anomala) is an opportunistic fungus.
  • An outbreak of H. anomala infections occurred in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU).
  • The source and transmission route of the outbreak were not identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the risk factors associated with H. anomala infections in ICU patients.
  • To identify potential contributing factors during an outbreak setting.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted involving 32 patients in the surgical ICU.
  • Univariate analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors.
  • Stepwise logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

Main Results:

  • Univariate analysis identified several risk factors including blood alkalosis, reduced urea, prolonged hospitalization, Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, and high APACHE II scores.
  • Multivariate analysis revealed that the duration of blood alkalosis was the only significant independent risk factor for H. anomala infection.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged blood alkalosis is a significant risk factor for Hansenula anomala infections in surgical ICU patients.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms linking blood alkalosis to H. anomala infections.

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