Frequency of Candidemia and Associated Factors According to a Sample of Children Admitted to a Pediatric Medical Center in Iran

The prevalence of candidemia and candiduria has been steadily increasing in medical centers, largely due to the rising use of antibiotics and advancements in medical technology.

This study aims to survey the frequency of candidiasis, focusing specifically on candidemia in children, associated risk factors, species distribution, and antifungal therapies.

This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study analyzed positive blood cultures from patients diagnosed with candidiasis. This cross-sectional study was conducted on children admitted to the Children's Medical Center Hospital diagnosed with candidemia from May 2021 to March 2022. All cases with positive blood cultures for Candida were included, ultimately examining 59 patients and assessing treatment responses.

A total of 68 cases were initially reviewed; however, 9 samples were excluded due to data deficiencies, leaving 59 patients for analysis. During this period, the laboratory reported a total of 2,230 positive cultures, with 68 cases identified as candidemia, accounting for 3.2% of positive cultures. Candida albicans was identified in 59.3% of cases compared to 40.7% for non-albicans species.

Candidemia represents one of many complications examined in this study, and its association with complex therapeutic interventions and mortality highlights the need for careful management to minimize unnecessary procedures and pharmacotherapies.