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Candidemia is a nosocomial infection mostly found in critically ill patients. Our objectives were to evaluate the change in distribution and resistance profile of Candida spp. isolated from candidemic patients in our intensive care unit over two 5-year periods spanning 15 years and to evaluate the risk factors. Records from the microbiology laboratory were obtained, from January 2004 to December 2008 and from January 2013 to December 2017, retrospectively. Antifungal susceptibility was performed by E-test and evaluated according to EUCAST breakpoints. A total of 210 candidemia cases occurred; 238 Candida spp. were isolated in 197 patients (58.8% male; mean age, 59.2 ± 19.6 years). The most predominant risk factor was central venous catheter use. Species distribution rates were 32%, 28%, 17%, and 11% for C. albicans (n = 76), C. parapsilosis (n = 67), C. glabrata (n = 40), and C. tropicalis (n = 27), respectively. Resistance rate to anidulafungin was high in C. parapsilosis over both periods and increased to 73% in the second period. Fluconazole showed a remarkable decrease for susceptibility in C. parapsilosis (94 to 49%). The prevalence of MDR C. parapsilosis (6%/33%) and C. glabrata (0%/44%) increased in the second period. We observed a predominance of non-albicans Candida spp., with C. parapsilosis being the most frequent and C. glabrata infections presenting with the highest mortality. High level of echinocandin resistance in C. parapsilosis and increasing prevalences of MDR C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata seem emerging challenges in our institution.

Introduction: The frequency, causality, severity, preventability and risk factors of ADRs (adverse drug reactions) in infectious disease units are not well defined in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the ADRs encountered in an infectious disease unit of a tertiary teaching hospital. Methodology: The patients who were admitted to the infectious disease unit of a tertiary teaching hospital longer than 24 hours between January and December of 2016 were followed prospectively. Patients were observed and questioned for any sign of ADRs. The proportion of ADRs and patient characteristics were investigated. Causality was evaluated by the Naranjo algorithm, severity was determined using the Hartwig classification, and preventability was assessed using the Schumock and Thornton scale. Results: 210 patients were admitted to the unit during the study period, of whom 44 patients (20.9%) experienced 51 ADRs. 5.9% of ADRs were found to be serious according to the Hartwig severity classification. In addition, 88.1% of ADRs were not preventable. The most frequently detected ADR was skin and subcutaneous tissue reactions (33.3%), and systemic antimicrobials were the most common type of drugs that caused an ADR. Prolonged hospitalization (p < 0.001) and usage of an increased number of drugs (p < 0.001) were found to be significant risk factors for ADR development. Conclusions: Prolonged hospital stay and polypharmacy are significant risk factors that increase the incidence of ADRs in infectious disease units. The likelihood of unavoidable ADRs should arouse the attention of clinicians when prescribing antimicrobials.

To the Editor: The percentage of patients who underwent appendectomy in the Comparison of Outcomes of Antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy (CODA) trial reported by Flum and colleagues (Nov. 12 issue) 1 was substantially higher than the percentage in almost all past antibiotic trials. Unlike most studies, the CODA trial included patients with an appendicolith (27% of the participants), and this condition is associated with rupture. However, even among the other patients, approximately 12% had surgery within 1 week (Fig. 2 of the article) — a percentage that was twice that observed in the Appendicitis Acuta (APPAC) trial, the next largest trial . . .