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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Candidemia in Colombia
Jorge Alberto Cortés1, José Franklin Ruiz2, Lizeth Natalia Melgarejo-Moreno3
1Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. jacortesl@unal.edu.co.
Candidemia, a frequent fungal infection in Colombian ICUs, has high mortality. Early detection in at-risk patients and prompt antifungal treatment are crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Candidemia is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections in Colombia, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
- It accounts for 88% of fungal infections in hospitalized patients, with a high mortality rate (36-78%).
- The incidence of candidemia in Colombia surpasses that reported in developed and other Latin American countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the high burden of candidemia in Colombia.
- To emphasize the importance of early detection and prompt treatment strategies.
- To inform clinical practice regarding risk factor assessment, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with candidemia.
- Assessment of diagnostic recommendations, including microbiological and molecular testing.
- Analysis of current international treatment guidelines for candidemia.
Main Results:
- Candidemia presents a substantial clinical challenge in Colombian ICUs due to its high incidence and mortality.
- Echinocandins are generally recommended as first-line treatment, with variations in fluconazole use based on specific patient factors and local epidemiology.
- Prompt empirical antifungal treatment is advised for patients with identified risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Early identification of patients at risk for candidemia is essential.
- Prompt initiation of antifungal therapy, guided by clinical assessment and diagnostic data, is critical.
- Adherence to established treatment guidelines, adapted for local context, can improve patient outcomes.
