Predominance of Candida tropicalis bloodstream infections in a Singapore teaching hospital

An 18- month epidemiologic investigation of Candida bloodstream infections in a Singapore hospital identified 52 candidemic patients: 36% of whose infections were caused by C. tropicalis, 29% were due to C. albicans, 10% with C. parapsilosis and 21% involved C. glabrata. A predominant clonal C. tropicalis strain was demonstrated. No association with ICU stay, prior exposure to fluconazole/ broad- spectrum antibiotics or increased mortality was found in this apparent shift towards non- albicans Candida species as the primary agents of candidemia.