Epidemiology of Candidemia: Experience of the Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory at CHU Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Morocco

Introduction: Candidemia is a bloodstream fungal infection caused by Candida species, whether albicans or non-albicans. The aim of this article is to determine the epidemiological profile and spectrum of candidiasis. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted over a period of 3 years and 5 months, from February 2021 to July 2024, using computerized data from the parasitology-mycology laboratory of CHU Med VI. The study included 80 positive fungal blood cultures for Candida, submitted for mycological analysis, from hospitalized patients who underwent fungal blood culture. Results: Among the 80 fungal blood cultures recorded for candidemia, C. tropicalis was the most frequently isolated species in 35% of cases, followed by Candida parapsilosis (30%), Candida albicans (17.5%), Candida glabrata (10%), Candida krusei (5%), and Candida famata (2.5%). (Figure 1). The proportion of C. albicans versus non-albicans Candida was 17.5% vs 82.5%. Conclusion: Non-albicans Candida species are increasingly frequent, with the emergence of new species. Their varying susceptibility to antifungal agents makes species identification essential for patient management.