Candidemia in cancer patients: features of the taxonomic structure

The aim of the study was to determine the main Candida species isolated from blood of cancer patients, to compare the taxonomic structure of strains obtained from children and adults with candidemia. In total, during the study period, candidemia was microbiologically proven by blood culture in 81 patients (duplicates were excluded). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) accounted for 35,8%. The total number of isolates elaborated was 82 strains of 10 Candida species. In general, in the taxonomic structure of candidemias, C. parapsilosis (61.0%) predominates, C. albicans (20.7%) is in the second place, followed by C. glabrata and C. lusitaniae (3.7% each); C. krusei, C. guilliermondii and C. tropicalis (2.4% each). C. parapsilosis was statistically significantly often isolated from blood compared to C. albicans (61.0% versus 20.7%, respectively, p<0.0001). Candidemia was statistically significantly more often detected in adults than in children (63.0% versus 37.0%, respectively, p<0.002). Moreover, in adults, C. parapsilosis was statistically significantly more often isolated from blood than C. albicans (70.6% versus 15.7%, respectively, p<0.0001). In children, there were no significant differences in the frequency of isolation of C. parapsilosis and C. albicans: the proportion of C. parapsilosis was 45.2%, C. albicans - 29.0%. Rare species were identified in 7.8% of cases in adults, and in 12.9% of cases in children without statistical difference (p>0.05). The proportion of Candida non-albicans during the study period was 79.3%, and C. parapsilosis is the main species in this group (76.9%).