Epidemiology of Candidemia in Latin America: A Laboratory-Based Survey

Background: the epidemiology of candidemia varies depending on the geographic region. Little is known about the epidemiology of candidemia in Latin America.Methods: We conducted a 24-month laboratory-based survey of candidemia in 20 centers of seven Latin American countries. Incidence rates were calculated and the epidemiology of candidemia was characterized.Results: Among 672 episodes of candidemia, 297 (44.2%) occurred in children (23.7% younger than 1 year), 36.2% in adults between 19 and 60 years old and 19.6% in elderly patients. the overall incidence was 1.18 cases per 1,000 admissions, and varied across countries, with the highest incidence in Colombia and the lowest in Chile. Candida albicans (37.6%), C. parapsilosis (26.5%) and C. tropicalis (17.6%) were the leading agents, with great variability in species distribution in the different countries. Most isolates were highly susceptible to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and anidulafungin. Fluconazole was the most frequent agent used as primary treatment (65.8%), and the overall 30-day survival was 59.3%.Conclusions: This first large epidemiologic study of candidemia in Latin America showed a high incidence of candidemia, high percentage of children, typical species distribution, with C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis accounting for the majority of episodes, and low resistance rates.independent medical grant from Pfizer Inc.Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Univ Hosp, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilHosp Escuela Tegucigalpa, Tegucigalpa, HondurasHosp Clin Jose San Martin, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Nacl Colombia, Dept Internal Med, Bogota, ColombiaPontificia Univ Catolica Ecuador, Fac Med, Hosp Vozandes, Quito, EcuadorHosp Vargas de Caracas, Caracas, VenezuelaCtr Med Caracas, Caracas, VenezuelaUniv Chile, Fac Med, Dept Pediat, Hosp Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago 7, ChileUniv Desarrollo, Clin Alemana, Dept Med, Infect Dis Unit, Santiago, ChileInst Nacl Ciencias Med & Nutr Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Dept Med, Lima, PeruUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Active Surveillance of Candidemia in Children from Latin America A Key Requirement for Improving Disease Outcome

Background: Active surveillance is necessary for improving the management and outcomes of patients with candidemia. the aim of this study was to describe the epidemiologic and clinical features of candidemia in pediatric patients in Latin America.Method: Prospective, multicenter, surveillance study of candidemia in a pediatric population from 23 hospitals in 8 Latin America countries between November 2008 and October 2010.Results: Three hundred and two cases of candidemia were reported with a median incidence of 0.81/1000 admissions. Eighty nine (29%) were neonates. the main risk factors were prematurity, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, parenteral nutrition, respiratory disease and mechanical ventilation in neonates and malignancy, neutropenia, neurological disease and previous use of corticosteroids in children. the main species isolated in neonates and children were Candida albicans (43.8% and 35.7%), Candida parapsilosis (27.0% and 26.3%) and Candida tropicalis (14.6% and 14.6%), respectively. the most frequent antifungal therapy used in neonates and children was deoxycholate-amphotericin-B (43.8% and 29.1%) and fluconazole (28.1% and 53.1%). Seventeen neonates (19.1%) and 20 children (9.4%) did not receive antifungal therapy. the 30-day survival rate was 60% in neonates and 72% in children (P = 0.02). Survival was significantly higher in treated than in nontreated neonates (72% vs. 24%; P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors for 30-day mortality in children were renal disease (odds ratio: 4.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.92-10.1, P < 0.001) and receipt of corticosteroids (odds ratio: 2.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-4.17, P = 0.04).Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective, multicenter surveillance study of candidemia in children in Latin America. This epidemiologic information may provide us with methods to improve preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in our continent.Pfizer Inc.Univ Chile, Fac Med, Hosp Luis Calvo Mackenna, Dept Pediat, Santiago 7, ChileHosp Escuela Tegucigalpa, Tegucigalpa, HondurasUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Infect Dis Unit, São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Ecuador, Hosp Vozandes, Fac Med, Quito, EcuadorHosp Clin Jose San Martin, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Nacl Colombia, Dept Internal Med, Bogota, ColombiaUniv Desarrollo, Dept Med, Clin Alemana, Infect Dis Unit, Santiago, ChileHosp Vargas Caracas, Infect Unit, Caracas, VenezuelaInst Nacl Ciencias Med & Nutr Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Cayetano Heredia, Dept Med, Lima, PeruUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Univ Hosp, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Infect Dis Unit, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc