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Colonization of hospitalized patients with yeast-like organisms
Abstract:
The pharyngeal, fecal and skin carrier rates of yeast-like organisms was determined in 126 patients on the day of admission to a larger Veterans Administration Hospital. None of these patients had been hospitalized or received anti-microbial agents during the previous year Candida and Torulopsis species were most common. A small percentage of patients were carriers of various species belonging to the genera Trichosporon, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Leucosporidium and Endomycopsis. Fifty of the original 126 patients remained hospitalized for a sufficient duration to permit repeat cultures on days 7 and 14. Twenty-five of these patients served as controls and did not receive antibiotics; the other 25 received at least a 4-day course of antibiotic therapy for an underlying infection. Although there was no significant difference in the carrier rates in these 2 groups, organisms other than Candida continued to be isolated from the 50 patients who remained hospitalized for 2 weeks.
Insights
This study investigated yeast-like organism carriage in 126 hospital patients. Antibiotic use did not significantly alter carrier rates, with Candida and Torulopsis species being most common.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Yeast-like organisms are common commensals in humans.
- Understanding carrier rates is crucial for infection control in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the pharyngeal, fecal, and skin carrier rates of yeast-like organisms in newly admitted hospital patients.
- To assess the impact of antibiotic therapy on yeast carrier rates during hospitalization.
Main Methods:
- Cultured yeast-like organisms from pharyngeal, fecal, and skin sites of 126 patients on admission.
- Re-cultured organisms from 50 patients on days 7 and 14.
- Compared carrier rates between patients receiving antibiotics and controls.
Main Results:
- Candida and Torulopsis species were the most frequently isolated yeast-like organisms.
- A small percentage of patients carried other genera including Trichosporon and Rhodotorula.
- No significant difference in carrier rates was observed between antibiotic-treated and control groups over 2 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Initial colonization with yeast-like organisms is common in hospitalized patients.
- Short-term antibiotic therapy did not significantly alter overall yeast carrier status in this cohort.
- Further investigation may be needed to understand the persistence of non-Candida yeast carriage.