Semi-national surveillance of fungaemia in Denmark 2004-2006: increasing incidence of fungaemia and numbers of isolates with reduced azole susceptibility

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2008 May;14(5):487-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.01954.x. Epub 2008 Feb 22.

Abstract

A semi-national laboratory-based surveillance programme for fungaemia was initiated in 2003 that now covers c. 3.5 million inhabitants (64%) of the Danish population. In total, 1089 episodes of fungaemia were recorded during 2004-2006, corresponding to an annual incidence of 10.4/100 000 inhabitants. The annual number of episodes increased by 17% during the study period. Candida spp. accounted for 98% of the fungal pathogens. Although Candida albicans remained predominant, the proportion of C. albicans decreased from 66.1% in 2004 to 53.8% in 2006 (p <0.01), and varied considerably among participating departments, e.g., from 51.1% at a university hospital in Copenhagen to 67.6% in North Jutland County. Candida glabrata ranked second, and increased in proportion from 16.7% to 22.7% (p 0.04). Candida krusei was isolated rarely (4.1%), but the proportion doubled during the study period from 3.2% to 6.4% (p 0.06). MIC distributions of amphotericin B and caspofungin were in close agreement with the patterns predicted by species identification; however, decreased susceptibility to voriconazole, defined as an MIC of >1 mg/L, was detected in one (2.5%) C. glabrata isolate in 2004 and in 12 (14.0%) isolates in 2006 (p 0.03). Overall, the proportion of isolates with decreased susceptibility to fluconazole exceeded 30% in 2006. The incidence of fungaemia in Denmark was three-fold higher than that reported from other Nordic countries and is increasing. Decreased susceptibility to fluconazole is frequent, and a new trend towards C. glabrata isolates with elevated voriconazole MICs was observed.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Azoles / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification*
  • Candida glabrata / isolation & purification*
  • Candidiasis / epidemiology*
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal / drug effects*
  • Fungemia / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Sentinel Surveillance

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Azoles