Invasive Candidiasis Epidemiology in France

Abstract

Invasive candidiasis is increasingly encountered in the French intensive care units (ICUs) but notably, these are still infrequent infections since the reported incidence rates are around 1%. However, some subgroups of patients with greater risk reaching 10–20% have been described. Candida albicans remain the most isolated species in France, accounting for 50–70% of the reported episodes. Risk factors for developing invasive Candida infection have been well described so far. However, we still fail to identify reliably the ICU patients with the highest risk, leading to antifungals overuse and delayed therapy as well. This latter point could account at least in part for the lack of outcome improvement of the patients with yeast invasive infection. Actually, mortality rates remain as elevated as 40–60%, despite highly active drugs. New diagnosis tools, yet available or still under development, will hopefully in the next future allow us to identify earlier and more accurately patients with ongoing Candida infection, leading in turn to better outcome.