Epidémiologie des candidoses invasives

Incidence of candidaemia has increased significantly over the last three decades. Candida albicans remains the most common species. There are significant geographic variations in the proportion of other species. C. glabrata is the second more frequent species in North America and Northern Europe. In South America and Southern Europe, Candida parapsilosis occupies the second place. Species also vary between patient populations. C. parapsilosis is more common among children, and C. glabrata among adults. Many risk factors underly the onset of candidaemia. ICU stay, abdominal surgery and hematologic diseases represent important risk factors. Favorable outcome is not the rule despite new antifungals and depends on the underlying disease and species involved. The precise knowledge of local epidemiology allows better ajustment of the first-line antifungal treatment. This review presents statistical data of candidaemia, the features of the main species, major risk factors, outcome of invasive candidiasis as well as usefulness and limits of the epidemiological studies.