Increasing incidence of candidaemia: long-term epidemiological trends, Queensland, Australia, 1999–2008

Summary Given variability in the epidemiology of candidaemia and a relative paucity of contemporary longitudinal data, a passive laboratory-based surveillance study was performed to assess the epidemiology of candidaemia in all public healthcare facilities in Queensland, Australia over the period 1999–2008. Demographic and microbiological data on all candidaemia episodes, together with appropriate denominators (admissions and patient-days), were collected from laboratory and administrative information systems. From 1999 to 2008, 1137 episodes occurred (overall incidence-density: 0.45 per 10 000 patient-days) with a 3.5-fold increase in density ( P < 0.0001 for trend). Candidaemia episodes originating in traditional high-risk areas either decreased (haemato-oncology and paediatric wards) or remained stable (intensive care units). Episodes on adult medical/surgical wards increased significantly over time, accounting for 60% of the total by 2008. The relative proportion caused by Candida albicans decreased and Candida parapsilosis increased (both P < 0.01). The proportion of fluconazole-resistant isolates did not change. The increasing occurrence of candidaemia outside traditional high-risk areas and the emergence of C. parapsilosis present new challenges for preventive and early intervention strategies.