Differences in patient risk factors and source of candidaemia caused by Candida albicans and Candida glabrata

There is an increasing frequency of candidaemia caused by Candida glabrata which has decreased in vitro susceptibility to fluconazole. Differences in risk factors for candidaemia caused by C. glabrata and C. albicans have not been formally evaluated in a diverse patient group. We performed a retrospective study of adult inpatients from January 1, 2003 to April 30, 2008 with C. glabrata and C. albicans candidaemia at a single tertiary care centre in Detroit, Michigan to evaluate for differences in risk factors and presumed source of infection in these groups. Patients’ underlying conditions, risk factors and source of infection (probable or definite) were compared. Among 119 patients, 80 (67.2%) were C. albicans and 39 (32.8%) C. glabrata. Using logistic regression analysis, patients with C. glabrata infection were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (OR 2.43; 95% CI, 1.06–5.54) and abdominal source of infection (OR 4.53, 95% CI, 1.72–11.92). Mortality rates in the two groups were similar. Patients with C. glabrata candidaemia are more likely to be diabetic and have an abdominal source of infection compared with patients with C. albicans.