To determine the incidence of Candida bloodstream infections (BSI) and antifungal drug resistance, population-based active laboratory surveillance was conducted from October 1998 through September 2000 in two areas of the United States (Baltimore, Md., and the state of Connecticut; combined population, 4.7 million). A total of 1,143 cases were detected, for an average adjusted annual incidence of 10 per 100,000 population or 1.5 per 10,000 hospital days. In 28% of patients, Candida BSI developed prior to or on the day of admission; only 36% of patients were in an intensive care unit at the time of diagnosis. No fewer than 78% of patients had a central catheter in place at the time of diagnosis, and 50% had undergone surgery within the previous 3 months. Candida albicans comprised 45% of the isolates, followed by C. glabrata (24%), C. parapsilosis (13%), and C. tropicalis (12%). Only 1.2% of C. albicans isolates were resistant to fluconazole (MIC, >64 g/ml), compared to 7% of C. glabrata isolates and 6% of C. tropicalis isolates. Only 0.9% of C. albicans isolates were resistant to itraconazole (MIC, >1 g/ml), compared to 19.5% of C. glabrata isolates and 6% of C. tropicalis isolates. Only 4.3% of C. albicans isolates were resistant to flucytosine (MIC, >32 g/ml), compared to <1% of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates and no C. glabrata isolates. As determined by E-test, the MICs of amphotericin B were >0.38 g/ml for 10% of Candida isolates, >1 g/ml for 1.7% of isolates, and >2 g/ml for 0.4% of isolates. Our findings highlight changes in the epidemiology of Candida BSI in the 1990s and provide a basis upon which to conduct further studies of selected high-risk subpopulations.

Candidemia studies have documented geographic differences in rates and epidemiology, underscoring the need for surveillance to monitor trends. We conducted prospective candidemia surveillance in Brazil to assess the incidence, species distribution, frequency of antifungal resistance, and risk factors for fluconazole-resistant Candida species. Prospective laboratory-based surveillance was conducted from March 2003 to December 2004 in 11 medical centers located in 9 major Brazilian cities. A case of candidemia was defined as the isolation of Candida spp. from a blood culture. Incidence rates were calculated per 1,000 admissions and 1,000 patientdays. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed by using the broth microdilution assay, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. We detected 712 cases, for an overall incidence of 2.49 cases per 1,000 admissions and 0.37 cases per 1,000 patient-days. The 30-day crude mortality was 54%. C. albicans was the most common species (40.9%), followed by C. tropicalis (20.9%) and C. parapsilosis (20.5%). Overall, decreased susceptibility to fluconazole occurred in 33 (5%) of incident isolates, 6 (1%) of which were resistant. There was a linear correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs (r ‫؍‬ 0.54 and P < 0.001 [Spearman's rho]). This is the largest multicenter candidemia study conducted in Latin America and shows the substantial morbidity and mortality of candidemia in Brazil. Antifungal resistance was rare, but correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs suggests cross-resistance may occur.

We conducted population-based surveillance for Candida bloodstream infections in Spain to determine its incidence, the extent of antifungal resistance, and risk factors for mortality. A case was defined as the first positive blood culture for any Candida spp. in a resident of Barcelona, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003. We defined early mortality as occurring between days 3 to 7 after candidemia and late mortality as occurring between days 8 to 30. We detected 345 cases of candidemia, for an average annual incidence of 4.3 cases/100,000 population, 0.53 cases/1,000 hospital discharges, and 0.73 cases/10,000 patient-days. Outpatients comprised 11% of the cases, and 89% had a central venous catheter (CVC) at diagnosis. Overall mortality was 44%. Candida albicans was the most frequent species (51% of cases), followed by Candida parapsilosis (23%), Candida tropicalis (10%), Candida glabrata (8%), Candida krusei (4%), and other species (3%). Twenty-four isolates (7%) had decreased susceptibility to fluconazole (MIC > 16 g/ml). On multivariable analysis, early death was independently associated with hematological malignancy (odds ratio [