Diagnostic value of candida colonization index in the early diagnosis of invasive Candidal infection

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of Candida colonization index (CCI) in the early diagnosis of invasive candidal infection in medical mix (medical and surgical intensive care units (ICU). Methods: Mouth, axillae, nasogastric catheter, rectum, and urine culture samples taken from the patients admitted to the reanimation and neurological ICU for 19 months were retrospectively evaluated and CCI were calculated. Results: CCI reached ≥0,5 in the cultures of 29 patients. 29 patients developed candidal infection; 27 (27/29) of them had CCI ≥0,5. 18 patients developed urinary infections, 10 patients developed candidemia, and 1 patient developed wound infection. CCI ≥0,5 was found as the only independent predictor for invasive candidal infection (p<0,001, OR: 701,553, %95 CI; 28,310-17385,22). The positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specifity of CCI for the candidal infection were found to be 93.1% and 96.2%, respectively. Conclusions: We concluded that monitoring for CCI in patients with unknown fever, severe sepsis or septic shock in the medical ICU offers an early diagnosis and intervention to prevent invasive candidal infection. Independently from the other risk factors, CCI may be considered as an effective test for early diagnosis of invasive candidal infection in medical and surgical ICU patients.