The impact of the COVID-19 on the antifungal consumption and antifungal resistance in Candida species isolated from the blood cultures of critically ill patients in intensive care units

KARA E., METAN G., Guelmez D., Arikan-Akdagli S.

MEDICAL MYCOLOGY, no.2, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/mmy/myaf002
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL MYCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Incidence of Candida species increased in critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antifungal consumption and Candida species distribution in bloodstream infections. We observed that a significant increase in non-albicansCandida species cases (P = .005) in 2021 coincided with higher rates of fluconazole resistance (P = .002) and increased minimum inhibitory concentrations for echinocandins (P = .012). Notably, voriconazole consumption and increased MIC levels positively correlated with both Candida albicans and non-albicansCandida species. This study underscores the importance of judicious antifungal use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incidence of Candida infections increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on antifungal consumption. An increase in non-albicansCandida species and fluconazole resistance was observed. This study underscores the importance of judicious antifungal use in COVID-19.