Distribution and prevalence of fungemia: a five-year retrospective multicentric survey in Venetian region, Italy.

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal infections, significantly impact hospitalized and immunocompromised populations. Recent trends showed a shift from to non- (NAC) species, raising concerns about antifungal resistance.

OBJECTIVES

Our study focuses on the distribution of fungal species in blood cultures obtained from different healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health centers in the Venetian region of Italy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive blood culture isolates across 5 hospitals, 38 long-term care facilities, and 24 sample collection centers (blood exams and culture) from 2019 to 2023.

RESULTS

Between 2019 and 2023, 11,552 microorganisms were isolated from blood cultures; 693 (6.0%) were fungi. The yearly prevalence ranged from 5.2% in 2019 to 6.1% in 2023. isolates decreased significantly, from 60.0% in 2019 to 43.1% in 2023. NAC species showed significant growth, particularly (from 23.6% in 2019 to 28.8% in 2023), (from 0.0% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2023), and (from 9.1% in 2019 to 11.8% in 2023). Medical wards consistently recorded the highest number of cases (429/693, 61.9%), with predominating in earlier years. Resistance to amphotericin B rose sharply in ss. (22.5% in 2022), while fluconazole resistance in remained high (peaking at 85.7% in 2021).

CONCLUSION

The increasing dominance of NAC species and rising resistance trends underscore the necessity for enhanced diagnostics, infection prevention, and antifungal stewardship. Future research should incorporate clinical data to optimize fungemia management strategies.