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Distribution and antifungal susceptibility of yeasts isolates from intensive care unit patients

Vladimír Hrabovský1, Victoria Takáčová2, Eva Schréterová2

  • 1Institute of Medical and Clinical Microbiology, P. J. Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia. vladimir.hrabovsky@upjs.sk.

Folia Microbiologica
|April 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This study analyzed 800 yeast isolates from ICU patients, finding Candida albicans most common. Most isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, but resistance patterns varied among species and antifungals.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Yeasts are common colonizers of non-sterile body sites.
  • Understanding yeast distribution and antifungal resistance is crucial for patient care, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the distribution of yeast species in clinical samples from ICU patients.
  • To assess the antifungal susceptibility patterns of these yeast isolates against five key antifungal agents.

Main Methods:

  • Collection and identification of 800 yeast isolates from ICU patients between January 2013 and June 2015.
  • Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using standard methods to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for five antifungals.

Main Results:

  • Candida albicans (58.9%) was the predominant species, followed by Candida glabrata (20.4%), Candida krusei (8.6%), and Candida parapsilosis (3.6%).
  • Most Candida albicans isolates showed susceptibility to fluconazole.
  • Elevated voriconazole MICs were noted in isolates with high fluconazole MICs, particularly in Candida glabrata.
  • Reduced susceptibility to echinocandins was rare, except in Trichosporon spp.
  • Slightly higher amphotericin B MICs were observed for some Candida krusei isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Candida albicans is the leading yeast pathogen in this ICU cohort, generally susceptible to fluconazole.
  • Emerging resistance patterns, particularly elevated voriconazole MICs in Candida glabrata, warrant monitoring.
  • Antifungal stewardship is important, considering the varied susceptibility profiles across different yeast species and drug classes.
Keywords:
Antifungal DrugCaspofunginInvasive Fungal InfectionTriazoleVoriconazole

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