Candidemia and antifungal susceptibility in Peruvian hospitals

Authors

  • Rios-Blanco, Romina MD Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2149-4540
  • Olsen-Verme, Marcello MD Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0007-2050
  • Palomino, Fiorella MD Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
  • Regal Ludowieg, Michelle MD Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0751-5328
  • Jacobs, Jan MD, PhD Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium / Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8657-6777
  • Fiorella Krapp Lopez Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8404-2827
  • Bustamante, Beatriz MD, MSc Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6826-5211
  • Garcia, Coralith MD, PhD Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7933-1843

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20453/rmh.v36i2.6233

Keywords:

Antifungal agents, Candida, Candidemia, Antifungal Drug Resistance

Abstract

Worldwide, Candida bloodstream infections have presented an increase in non-albicans Candida species and resistance to antifungal agents. Objective: To describe the microbiological characteristics of consecutive Candida blood culture isolates. Methods: This study analyzed 73 consecutive Candida blood isolates recovered between July 2017 and July 2019 from routine patient care at 15 Peruvian hospitals, assessing susceptibility to four antifungal agents. Results: The species most frequently detected were Candida parapsilosis 39 (53.4%), Candida albicans 23 (31.5%), and Candida tropicalis 5 (6.8%). Conclusions: All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, and anidulafungin. There is a predominance of non-albicans Candida cases in Peru and a high susceptibility to current antifungal drugs.

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Author Biographies

Rios-Blanco, Romina MD, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Romina Rios is a medical doctor from Peru and a master's student in Global Health at ISGlobal, Universitat de Barcelona. Her research interests include infectious diseases, public health, and clinical guideline development. She has experience in clinical and public health research in Latin America and is currently involved in studies on candidemia in Peru and other global health challenges.

Olsen-Verme, Marcello MD, Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Marcello Olsen Verme graduated from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado. He currently works in Bronx, NY, specializing in Internal Medicine, with a strong interest in clinical research and infectious diseases.

Palomino, Fiorella MD, Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Fiorella Palomino is a Peruvian physician graduated from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. She has a strong interest in research and public health.

Regal Ludowieg, Michelle MD, Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Dr. Michelle Regal Ludowieg is a physician based in Washington, DC, specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is dedicated to providing comprehensive care in women's health, with a focus on both preventative and clinical aspects of obstetrics and gynecology.

Jacobs, Jan MD, PhD , Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium / Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Dr. Jan Jacobs is a medical professional affiliated with the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation at KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. His work focuses on tropical medicine, microbiology, and immunology, with a particular interest in infectious diseases and global health.

Fiorella Krapp Lopez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Dr. Fiorella Krapp is a Medical Doctor from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), specializing in Internal Medicine from Washington University in St. Louis and Infectious Diseases from Northwestern University. She holds a Master's in Clinical Research and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, and Immunology from the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven, Belgium). She is currently a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine and an Associate Researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine at UPCH. Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, with multiple projects on its impact, resistance mechanisms, and virulence in Peru, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria.

Bustamante, Beatriz MD, MSc, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Dr. Beatriz Bustamante is the Head of the Clinical Mycology Unit at the Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. She specializes in clinical mycology, focusing on fungal infections and their treatment. Her work contributes to advancing the understanding and management of mycological diseases in Peru.

Garcia, Coralith MD, PhD, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Dr. Coralith García is a physician and specialist in Infectious and Tropical Diseases, graduated from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, where she is currently an associate professor. She works as an assistant physician at the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia and is a full member of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine. Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-associated infections, and antibiotic use.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Rios-Blanco R, Olsen-Verme M, Palomino Escalante F, Regal Ludowieg M, Jacobs J, Krapp Lopez F, et al. Candidemia and antifungal susceptibility in Peruvian hospitals. Rev Méd Hered [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 30 [cited 2025 Jul. 17];36(2):130-5. Available from: http://44.198.254.164/index.php/RMH/article/view/6233

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 2 (2025): Abril-junio

Section

BRIEF COMUNICATION

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Romina Rios Blanco, Marcello Olsen Verme, Fiorella Palomino Escalante, Michelle Regal Ludowieg, Jan Jacobs, Fiorella Krapp Lopez, Beatriz Bustamante Rufino, Coralith García Apac

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