[Etiological factors of fungemia in the Hospital San Martín in La Plata].

To determine the distribution of etiologic agents of fungemia in San Martin Hospital, La Plata, we retrospectively studied 81 consecutive episodes of fungemia, diagnosed in 46 adults and 35 preterm newborn (PNB) hospitalized from November 1998 to August 2001. The diagnosis was achieved by blood culture obtained by venipuncture and by catheter aspiration and was processed using BactAlert and lysis-centrifugation technique. Isolated yeasts were identified employing API 32C system and additional tests. Candida parapsilosis (28.4%), C. albicans (25.9%) and C. tropicalis (25.9%) were predominant as etiological agents (80%). Other species of Candida (C. pelliculosa, C. kefyr and C. guillermondii), Malassezia pachydermatis, Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum were recovered in low percentage (each one < or = 7%). C. parapsilosis was predominant as causative agent among PNB male (47.4%), C. albicans among adult women (41.7%) and C. tropicalis among adult men (32.3%). The species of Candida (C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. albicans) were predominant as etiologic agents of fungemia, with a different distribution in the episodes which occurred in adults and PNB patients, and also according to gender in both groups.