Candidemia in Finland, 1995-1999

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Mycology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Candidemia, a serious bloodstream fungal infection, poses a significant public health challenge.
• Surveillance data is crucial for understanding trends and guiding prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence, species distribution, risk factors, and outcomes of candidemia in Finland from 1995 to 1999.
• To compare Finnish candidemia rates with those in the United States.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of laboratory-based surveillance data from the National Infectious Disease Register of Finland.
• Review of candidemia cases from a single tertiary-care hospital during the study period.
• Calculation of incidence rates per 100,000 population and per 1,000 patient-days.

Main Results:

• A total of 479 candidemia cases were reported, with annual incidence increasing from 1.7 to 2.2 per 100,000 population.
• Non-Candida albicans species accounted for 30% of cases, with no significant change in proportion over time.
• Key predisposing factors included indwelling catheters (81%), gastrointestinal surgery (27%), and hematologic malignancy (25%).
• Crude 7-day and 30-day case-fatality ratios were 15% and 35%, respectively.
• Candidemia rates in Finland were substantially lower than in the United States.

Conclusions:

• Candidemia incidence showed an increasing trend in Finland during the study period.
• Candida albicans remained the predominant species, with no shift towards non-albicans species observed.
• High-risk patient groups and predisposing factors were identified, highlighting areas for targeted interventions.