Candidemia in Southern Poland (2017–2022): Multicenter Analysis of Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility

<i>Candida</i> fungi are among the most common human fungal pathogens and invasive candidiasis is one of the predominant invasive mycoses that mainly affects hospitalized patients with suppression of the immunological system and breaches in skin or mucosal barriers. Rapid diagnosis and implementation of appropriate antifungal treatment are key to achieving recovery. In recent years, attention has been drawn to the increasing significance of <i>Candida</i> species other than <i>C. albicans</i>, in particular <i>C. auris</i> and fluconazole-resistant <i>C. parapsilosis</i>. The aim of this work was to present the species spectrum and drug susceptibility of 570 <i>Candida</i> strains isolated from candidemia cases diagnosed in patients hospitalized in southern Poland in the period 2017-2022. The results of <i>Candida</i>-positive blood cultures obtained from five hospitals were analyzed. <i>C. albicans</i> was the most common species, accounting for 42.6% of all strains, followed by <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> (formerly <i>C. glabrata</i>) and <i>C. parapsilosis</i> complex-22.1% and 18.8%, respectively. No <i>C. auris</i> was found. Fluconazole resistance was found in 4.9% of <i>C. albicans</i> strains, 34.7% of <i>N. glabratus</i> strains, and 8.7% of <i>C. parapsilosis</i> complex strains.