Candidemia in Colombia: Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles of Yeast Bloodstream Isolates from a Six-Year Multicentre Surveillance Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A multicentre, laboratory-based analysis was conducted on aggregated data from 23 hospitals across Colombia. Of 1761 fungal isolates identified, 1642 were yeasts and constitute the focus of this study. Isolates were identified using the VITEK®2 system, with confirmatory identification by MALDI-TOF-MS for a subset. Antifungal susceptibility testing for fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, and the echinocandins was performed on Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Data were stratified by clinical service: adult ICU, adult wards, paediatric ICU, neonatal ICU, and paediatric wards. Temporal trends were assessed using the Cochran–Armitage test. The most prevalent species were C. albicans (42%), C. parapsilosis (24%), C. tropicalis (11%), C. glabrata (7%), and C. auris (3%). C. albicans predominated in adult services, whereas C. parapsilosis was the leading pathogen across paediatric settings. Among species with validated breakpoints, the overall fluconazole resistance rate was 19%, driven primarily by C. parapsilosis (35%, exceeding 40% in some clinical services). Non-wild-type to voriconazole and amphotericin B was low (<5%), and echinocandin resistance was exceedingly rare. The substantial fluconazole resistance driven by C. parapsilosis, together with the emergence of C. auris, underscores the urgent need for sustained surveillance and species-directed antifungal stewardship programmes.
Source: Journal of Fungi
DOI: 10.3390/jof12090640
Authors: Andres Ceballos-Garzon, Nicolas Beltran, Valeri Saenz, Luz-Angela Pescador, Diego Josa, Alejandro Rodriguez-Bobadilla, Luisa-Fernanda Rodriguez, Rosalba Quintero-Munoz, Ivan-Felipe Gutierrez, Maria del Pilar Torres-Navarrete, Liliana Arevalo, Diana P. Cely-Ladino, Gloria Cortes, Luisa F. Ortiz-Torres, Rafael Pelufo, Nella Sanchez, Leidy Bogota, Claudia R. Sierra-Parada, Laura-Daniela Méndez, Maria J. Jimenez-A, Lizeth Paola Gutierrez, Jorge-Alberto Cortes, Aura-Lucia Leal
Institutions: Universidad del Rosario, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Clínica Medellín SAS, Departamento Nacional de Planeación, Instituto Nacional de Metrología de Colombia, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Institute of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Nacional de Colombia
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7204491591