Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Antifungal use influences Candida species distribution and susceptibility in the intensive care unit

Pierre Fournier1, Carole Schwebel, Danièle Maubon

  • 1Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Infectious Agent Department, Albert Michallon University Hospital and Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France. pfournier@chu-grenoble.fr

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|October 8, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antifungal drug use in intensive care units (ICUs) significantly impacts Candida species distribution and susceptibility. Increased use of certain antifungals correlated with rising minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in Candida isolates.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • Antifungal prescription patterns have evolved over the past decade.
  • The clinical impact of these changes on Candida spp. remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of antifungal drug consumption on the distribution and drug susceptibility of Candida species.
  • Study conducted in a French intensive care unit (ICU).

Main Methods:

  • Measured antifungal drug use in defined daily doses per 1000 hospital days (DDDs/1000HD).
  • Determined Candida spp. distribution and antifungal drug minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) over a 6-year period (2004-2009).
  • Utilized statistical analyses to correlate antifungal use with changes in Candida distribution and MICs.

Main Results:

  • Candida parapsilosis distribution significantly increased from 5.7% to 12.5% (2004-2009).
  • Increased caspofungin use correlated with higher caspofungin MICs in Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata.
  • Amphotericin B and fluconazole use also showed correlations with changes in their respective MICs for Candida species.

Conclusions:

  • Antifungal drug consumption in ICUs is linked to significant shifts in Candida spp. distribution.
  • Changes in antifungal prescribing practices are associated with altered drug susceptibility patterns in Candida isolates.

More Related Videos

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis08:48

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance08:45

Whole Genome Sequencing of Candida glabrata for Detection of Markers of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Published on: December 28, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...