Candidemia in Türkiye demonstrates nationwide predominance of non-albicans Candida and Candida auris detection
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In recent years, evolving patterns in candidemia epidemiology, including increasing proportions of non-albicans Candida (NAC) species and the emergence of Candida auris, have been reported. We aimed to characterize contemporary candidemia epidemiology in Turkey and to assess the association between guideline adherence and 30-day mortality. In this nationwide retrospective multicenter cohort study, adult patients with blood culture-confirmed candidemia diagnosed between January 2022 and December 2023 in 20 hospitals were included. Species identification was standardized and confirmed using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 398 candidemia episodes were analyzed. Although Candida albicans remained the single most common species (34.7%), NAC species predominated overall (65.3%), mainly driven by Candida parapsilosis (26.6%), while C. auris accounted for 6.5% of cases and was detected across multiple centers. Crude mortality was 68.3% and 30-day mortality was 56.3%. Failure to remove central venous catheters (CVC) was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant differences in 30-day survival across EQUAL Candida score categories in the overall candidemia cohort (log-rank p = 0.02) and among patients with CVC-related candidemia cohort (log-rank p = 0.008). Collectively, our findings provide a contemporary nationwide overview of candidemia in Turkey, highlighting the predominance of NAC species, the multicenter detection of C. auris, and the clinical importance of early source control.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Zehra Çağla Karakoç, Melih Uygun, Aynur Gülcan, Ayşe Barış, Ayşe Serra Özel, Bedia Dinç, Begüm Nalça, Beyza Ener, Birsen Mutlu, Buket Ertürk-Şengel, Didem Akal-Taşçıoğlu, Duru Mıstanoğlu-Özatağ, Ebru Taşpınar-Şen, Elif Neyligül Arslan, Elif Seren Tanrıverdi, Emine Günal, Esra Kazak, Feyzanur Gündoğdu-Aksoy, Funda Memişoğlu, Handan Alay, İlkay Karaoğlan, İlvana Çaklovica-Küçükkaya, Müge Aslan, Neşe Saltoğlu, Nida Özcan, Nisel Yılmaz, Oğuz Usta, Özlem Güler, Pınar Elbir-Kılıç, Recep Tekin, Serap Demir-Tekol, Sibel Bolukçu, Süheyla Serin-Senger, Yasemin Tezer, Yasemin Zer, Zeynep Çizmeci, Zeynep Karakaşoğlu, Zuhal Yeşilbağ, Füsun Can, Önder Ergönül, KLİMİK MİÇG Study Group
Institutions: Istinye University, Koç University, Kutahya Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ümraniye Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Bursa Uludağ Üni̇versi̇tesi̇, Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Marmara University, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Inonu University, Atatürk University, Gaziantep University, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul University, Dicle University, Izmir Tepecik Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Dr Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Bakırköy Dr.Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7162858645