Monitoring nosocomial infection caused by Candida in west region of the State of São Paulo: phenotypic and genotypic characterizations and correlation with the risk factors in patients with cancer

Abstract

Infections caused by Candida species are a major public health problem in tertiary hospitals all over the world, especially in patients with cancer, in which is associated with high mortality. Thus, for the purpose of helping to change this framework, this study will have the following objectives: 1) determine the frequency of yeast species isolated from clinical specimens in specific tertiary public hospital in the care of cancer patients in São Paulo - SP, 2) verify by molecular methods, the presence of C. dubliniensis among the phenotypes of C. albicans, 3) verify, by molecular methods, the prevalence of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. orthopsilosis, C. metapsilosis, C. glabrata sensu stricto, C. bracarensis and C. nivariensis; 4) determine and compare the virulence factors: production of proteinase, phospholipase and hemolysin enzymes; 5) determine and compare the ability of samples to produce biofilm, 6) evaluate the sensitivity patterns of the isolates front antifungals used in the clinic for through the E-test method; 7) study and compare the genotypic profile of isolates of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata by analysis of microsatellite markers, also elucidating the occurrence of a possible hospital outbreak; 8) correlate the identified species with data for antifungal susceptibility and risk factors of patients in order to organize an epidemiological protocol. (AU)