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Nosocomial acquisition of Candida parapsilosis: an epidemiologic study
V Sanchez1, J A Vazquez, D Barth-Jones
1Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine aspects of the epidemiology of nosocomial infection due to Candida parapsilosis. Candida species are important nosocomial pathogens; however, little epidemiologic information is available.
Patients And Methods:
We prospectively cultured specimens from 98 patients admitted to the bone marrow transplant unit and a medicine intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital. Specimens from hands of personnel and environmental surfaces were also cultured. Environmental cultures were done before patients were admitted to a studied unit. Restriction enzyme analysis (REA) of chromosomal DNA was used as a typing system to determine the relatedness of strains.
Results:
C. parapsilosis was identified from five patients, six hand cultures from four hospital staff, and two environmental surfaces. All five patients had negative initial cultures and acquired C. parapsilosis after admission to the study unit. There were no significant differences between patients and control subjects in age, underlying disease, immunosuppressive therapy, and instrumentation. The duration of antibiotic therapy (median: 32.8 versus 11.8 days, p = 0.05) and the duration in the unit (means: 30.1 versus 16.1 days, p = 0.048) was longer in patients than in controls. No common source was identified. REA revealed three strain types; however, one strain type was identical in four patients, three staff members, and two environmental surfaces.
Conclusion:
These results suggest exogenous acquisition of C. parapsilosis. Based upon isolation of identical patient strains of C. parapsilosis from inanimate surfaces before patients were admitted to a study unit, there is evidence that the organism may have been acquired from the hospital environment. The principal mechanism of transmission was probably indirect contact via the hands of hospital personnel.
Insights
Nosocomial infections from Candida parapsilosis were investigated. Identical strains found on patients, staff hands, and surfaces suggest environmental acquisition, likely through indirect contact with hospital personnel.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Candida species are significant nosocomial pathogens.
- Limited epidemiologic data exists for Candida parapsilosis.
- Understanding transmission is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiology of nosocomial infections caused by Candida parapsilosis.
- To identify sources and transmission routes of C. parapsilosis in a hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- Prospective surveillance of patients in a bone marrow transplant unit and ICU.
- Culturing of patient, staff hand, and environmental samples.
- Restriction enzyme analysis (REA) for strain typing.
Main Results:
- C. parapsilosis was isolated from five patients, four staff members, and two environmental sites.
- Identical C. parapsilosis strains were found across patients, staff, and the environment.
- Patients with C. parapsilosis had longer antibiotic therapy and unit stays.
Conclusions:
- Exogenous acquisition of C. parapsilosis is suggested.
- The hospital environment, including inanimate surfaces, is a likely source.
- Indirect contact via healthcare worker hands is the probable transmission route.