[Candida sepsis. I. Risk factors, pathogenesis and the clinical picture]

Candida sepsis is a serious and ever increasing complication in patients with a reduced defense capacity. At the intensive care unit of the infectious department in 1978-1990 from a total of 430 patients with the diagnosis of sepsis 20 (4.7%) had a Candida aetiology. Candida sepsis is suspected in particular in leukaemic patients with neutropenia, in organ transplantations and in patients given intensive care on account of a serious primary disease, bacterial infection or after surgery. The risk of deep candidosis is increased by venous catheters, hyperalimentation, antibiotic treatment, invasive operations. Diagnosis is supported by endophthalmitis and skin lesions; signs of affection of the liver, lungs, kidneys and cardiac valves are sought. Analysis of risk factors, pathogenesis and the clinical picture of invasive Candida infections is based on ample data in the literature.