Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiabá--Mato Grosso, Brazil.

BACKGROUND Fungal infections are emerging as an important cause of human disease, especially among hospitalized patients with serious underlying disease and several risk factors. AIMS To evaluate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiabá - MT, Brazil. METHODS A descriptive study of 91 patients admitted to university hospitals in Cuiabá - MT, with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of nosocomial candidiasis, over a 20-month period. RESULTS A rate for nosocomial infections by Candida spp. of 5 per 1000 admissions, proportional mortality of 14.4% and lethality of 53.8% were determined. The patient age ranged from 29 days to 82 years-old, among which, 74.7% were adults and 25.3% children. The intensive care units contributed with the highest number of cases of infection by Candida spp. (69.2%). The most important underlying disease was gastrointestinal tract disease (11%). Prematurity and low birth weight were the most important risk factors among newborns. The use of antibiotics, invasive procedures, H(2) blockers, multiple blood transfusions and stay length of ≥21 days were the most frequent risk factors among adults. Candida albicans was the most common species in all cases. CONCLUSIONS In this study, C. albicans was the most frequently detected species in candidiasis and risk factors increased the susceptibility of hospitalized patients to acquiring a nosocomial infection by Candida spp.