Candiduria in intensive care units: association with heavy colonization and candidaemia

Candiduria is increasingly detected in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and often coexists with candidal colonization at other anatomical, sites. Studies involving surgical. and medical ICU patients have consistentty reported a relationship between candiduria and heavy colonization. This suggests that candiduria could be considered as a marker for heavy colonization. Risk factors that predispose to heavy colonization are generally similar to those predisposing to candidaemia. Candiduria in ICU patients is characterized by a high mortality, largely through a significant relationship with candidaemia, which in some patients may reach 50%. Therapeutic interventions should be strongly considered in the critically itt patient who presents with candiduria and concurrent clinical. risk factors predisposing to dissemination. (C) 2007 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.