High frequency of Candida parapsilosis on the hands of healthy hosts

The presence of yeasts on the hands of 86 healthy hosts (62 hospital workers and 24 healthy members of the community with no hospital exposure) was investigated. A high rate of colonization was found (59.3%). Candida parapsilosis was the most frequently isolated species (51%), independent of the origin of the samples. The potential virulence and resistance to antifungals of the 26 C. parapsilosis isolates were determined. All were proteinase producers and formed biofilms. The haemolytic activity was variable, with a predominance of total haemolysis of sheep erythrocytes. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B but two showed reduced susceptibility to fluconazole. Healthy people may be colonized by a species of yeast with a high capacity for adhesion to plastic surfaces, providing an infection risk to susceptible individuals. (C) 2004 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.