Epidemiology of candidemia.

A number of studies have identified common risk factors for patients developing a systemic Candida infection [9]. Patients that are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed e.g. because of immunosuppressive therapeutic regimens or the use of new and aggressive therapeutic strategies of life support systems are especially at risk [10]. These important changes in medical care have to some extent occurred in all hospitals, but has probably been most marked in intensive care units (ICU), in large tertiary care hospitals and in specialized cancer institutions. Most of the studies on the epidemiology of candidemia have been done in single hospitals and the majority of these hospitals are probably large, specialized hospitals.