Candiduria in hospital patients: A study prospective

The presence of Candida species in the urine is frequent among hospitalized patients. We studied sample urine of 205 hospitalized patients during a 1-year period to determine the incidence of nosocomial candiduria. The yeasts were isolated in 22% (45/205) urine cultures and risk factors in these patients were analyzed. Candida albicans was isolated in 35.6% and C. tropicalis (22%) was the second most frequent species isolated. Most patients were women (57.8%) with a mean age of 48.7 years. The principal risk factors that were observed in patients with candiduria included antibiotics therapy (100%), urinary catheterization (84.4%), surgical procedure (66.7%), female sex and extended hospitalization. The efficacy of fluconazole therapy to eradicate Candida from urine was demonstrated (p=0.05). Of the 23 individuals who received antifungal therapy, candiduria persisted in 9 (39.2%) and of 22 patients who received no antifungal therapy, the candiduria persisted in 15 (68.2%).