Candida

Candidemia
Surveillance
2008-2010

Candida represents a genus of yeast. Candida species, like C. albicans, can be found living among typical human flora, particularly in the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. While Candida does not usually cause invasive disease in healthy individuals, it can become a life-threatening pathogen to those with weakened immunity, especially if the organism enters the bloodstream. Persons at high risk for candidemia include very-low-birth-weight babies, surgical patients, hospitalized patients, patients with a central venous catheter, and those who are immunocompromised (e.g. patients with AIDS or those on chemotherapy for cancer).

A 2004 study identifies candidemia as the fourth most common cause of hospital-related or hospital associated bloodstream infections in the United States and the third most common cause in the intensive care unit setting.¹ In addition to these statistics, significant concern over possible increased antifungal drug resistance emphasizes the importance of conducting this study. 

Candidemia surveillance and isolate collection had been conducted in Baltimore City and Baltimore County during 1998-2000. This surveillance was re-initiated in June 2008.  The purpose of this surveillance is to determine the incidence of candidemia and antifungal drug resistance in Baltimore City and County. Data collected currently will be compared to findings of the 1998-2000 surveillance to identify changes in disease incidence and antibiotic susceptibility.

For more information on Candida infections, please visit the CDC Candidiasis website.

1. Wisplinghoff H, Bischoff T, Tallent SM, Seifert H, Wenzel RP, Edmond MB. Nosocomial bloodstream infections in US hospitals: analysis of 24,179 cases from a prospective nationwide surveillance study.  Clin Infect Dis 2004; 39: 309-17.

Image courtesy of the CDC Public Health Image Library  

Maryland Emerging Infections Program/ABCs
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Candler Building
111 Market Place, Suite 850, Room 8546
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-223-1810
Fax:  410-223-1815
Email: mdabcs@jhsph.edu