Candida Urinary Tract Infection Among ICU Patients in Isfahan, Iran

authors:

avatar Somayeh Haghighipour 1 , avatar Morteza Pourahmad ORCID 1 , avatar Mahta Noorbakhsh 1 , avatar Rasoul Mohammadi ORCID 2 , *

Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

how to cite: Haghighipour S, Pourahmad M, Noorbakhsh M, Mohammadi R. Candida Urinary Tract Infection Among ICU Patients in Isfahan, Iran. Arch Clin Infect Dis. 2019;14(5):e86472. https://doi.org/10.5812/archcid.86472.

Abstract

Background:

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease in hospitalized patients with indwelling devices especially in the intensive care units (ICUs). Candida species are the etiologic agents of 20% - 25% of UTI in ICUs, and the most common organisms after Escherichia coli. Although fungal UTIs are clearly rare in comparison with bacterial UTIs, however there has been an increase in the prevalence of Candida species since 1980s. Despite Candida albicans being a main etiologic agent of fungal UTI, non-albicans Candida species (NACs) such as C. krusei, and C. glabrata, are repeatedly isolated from clinical samples. Identification of Candida to the species level is crucial due to expanding resistance of NACs to the antifungal agents.

Objectives:

The present study aimed to identify the causative agents of fungal UTI among hospitalized patients at the ICU ward of Al-Zahra university hospital in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods:

From March 2017 to October 2018, 100 ICU patients with positive urine cultures of Candida species were registered in Isfahan, Iran. All clinical isolates were sub-cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar, and CHROMagar Candida media and incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Molecular identification was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique using specific primers.

Results:

Candida albicans was the most prevalent species among clinical isolates (94%) followed by Candida tropicalis (4%), Candida glabrata (1%), and Candida parapsilosis (1%). Most patients belonged to the age range of 71 - 80. Diabetes mellitus and neutropenia were the main risk factors among patients.

Conclusions:

Since Candida albicans was the most prevalent species in the present study, and due to its various sensitivities to antifungal agents, antifungal susceptibility testing for clinical isolates is recommended for better management of Candida UTI.

1. Background

Candida species mainly Candida albicans are the causative agents of up to 20% - 25% of urinary tract infection (UTI) in intensive care units (ICUs), and the most common organisms after Escherichia coli (E. coli) (1). They can cause a range of infections from non-life threatening mucocutaneous diseases to life-threatening invasive and disseminated infections (2, 3). The entrance of Candida spp. to the urine (candiduria), is typically symptomless and has no features to indicate UTI (4). Candiduria is more common in hospitalized patients with indwelling devices and especially those in ICUs. Fungal UTIs are clearly rare in comparison with bacterial UTIs, however there has been an increase in the prevalence of Candida spp. causing UTIs since 1980s (5). Candida species present in the urinary tract via the climbing route, from the urethra to the bladder, and hematogenous dissemination by filtration of Candida spp. in kidneys and excretion to the urine (6). Urinary tract instrumentation, prolonged hospitalized stay, widespread antibiotic consumption, extremes of age, corticosteroid therapy, organ transplantation, female gender, diabetes mellitus, and use of immunosuppressive agents are the most predisposing factors (7). Candida albicans is the most prevalent etiologic agent for UTI however non-albicans Candida species (NACs) such as C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis are also isolated from UTIs (8-10).

2. Objectives

The aim of the present study was to identify the etiologic agents of Candida UTI among hospitalized patients at the ICU ward of Al-Zahra university hospital in Isfahan, Iran.

3. Methods

3.1. Inclusion Criteria

Patients with pyuria, and those patients who had antibacterial-resistant fever. The presence of blood and protein on urinalysis was a supporting sign of a Candida UTI only if yeasts alone were grown; without bacterial growth (4). In patients with indwelling catheters, colony counts ranged between 2 × 104 and ≥ 105 colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL; and for those patients without indwelling catheters colony counts as low as 104 CFU/mL. For those patients who had an indwelling catheter, replacement of catheter with a new device was performed and then the second urine sample was collected. If there was growth in the next sample, we considered UTI for the patient (4, 10, 11).

3.2. Isolates

From March 2017 to October 2018, 5281 patients were hospitalized at the ICU ward of Al-Zahra university hospital in Isfahan, Iran. One hundred patients out of 5281 (1.9%) were diagnosed as Candida UTI. The clinical isolates were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (Biolife, Italy), and incubated at 37°C for 48 hours.

3.3. Phenotypic Identification

The sediments of urine specimens were initially sub-cultured on chromogenic medium (CHROMagar, DIFCO; Becton Dickinson, France) and incubated at 30°C for 24 - 48 hours. Species identification was performed based on chromogenic reaction of Candida species. Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, and other species produce green, metallic blue, pink, and white to mauve colonies, respectively.

3.4. Molecular Identification

Genomic DNA of clinical isolates were extracted using the boiling method (12). Briefly, a loopful of fresh colonies were suspended in 150 µL of double distilled water (DDW) and boiled for 20 minutes, then centrifuged for 5 minutes at 8000 rpm, finally the supernatant was used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ITS1-5.8SrDNA-ITS2 region was amplified by a PCR mixture containing of 5 µL of 10× reaction buffer, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 0.4 mM dNTPs, 30 pmol of both ITS1 (5’-TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G-3’) and ITS4 (5’-TCC TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC-3’) primers, 2.5 U of Taq polymerase, and 3 µL of DNA in a final volume of 50 µL. The PCR cycling condition was: an initial denaturation phase at 94°C for 5 minutes, followed by 32 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 30 seconds, annealing at 55°C for 45 seconds, and extension at 72°C for 1 minute, with a final extension phase at 72°C for 7 minutes. In the second step, the HpaII restriction enzyme (Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania) was applied to digest amplified products. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) products were separated by gel electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel (containing 0.5 µg/mL ethidium bromide) and photographed by Uvidoc (Cleaver Scientific Ltd, UK).

4. Results

Candida albicans was the most prevalent species among clinical isolates (94%) followed by Candida tropicalis (4%), Candida glabrata (1%), and Candida parapsilosis (1%) (Figure 1). Median age of patients was 61.8 (SD = 18.5). Male to female sex ratio was 40/60. The age range of (71 - 80) (24%) and (1 - 10) (1%) had the most and the least frequencies. All patients had urinary catheters. Forty four and 11 patients were diabetic and neutropenic, respectively. Two patients had undergone kidney transplantation. Hospitalization period was 2 - 40 days. Table 1 shows the characteristics of patients in the present study.

Table 1.

Details of Patients with UTI in the Present Study

No.GenderAgeNeutropeniaDiabetes MellitusKidney TransplantationImmunosuppressive TherapyAntimicrobial UsageDuration of Hospitalization (Day)Candida spp.
1Male73++-Azathioprine+14C. albicans
2Male42-----8C. albicans
3Male72++-Corticosteroid+5C. albicans
4Male37-----4C. albicans
5Female73-+--+6C. tropicalis
6Male63-+---3C. albicans
7Female32-----3C. albicans
8Female48-----2C. albicans
9Male75-+--+13C. albicans
10Male76-+--+29C. albicans
11Female42-----2C. albicans
12Female86-+--+5C. albicans
13Female22-----8C. albicans
14Male81----+18C. albicans
15Male73-+---2C. albicans
16Female34--+Tacrolimus+6C. albicans
17Male36-----39C. albicans
18Female84++-Azathioprine+6C. albicans
19Male83-+---5C. albicans
20Female70-----5C. albicans
21Male59--+Tacrolimus+2C. albicans
22Female51-+---6C. albicans
23Male62-+---5C. albicans
24Male36----+9C. albicans
25Female41----+2C. albicans
26Female60-----4C. albicans
27Female24----+8C. albicans
28Male73-----9C. albicans
29Female71----+5C. albicans
30Male65-+--+15C. albicans
31Female62++-Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-15C. albicans
32Female77----+6C. albicans
33Female71-+-Corticosteroid+5C. albicans
34Female27---Corticosteroid-6C. albicans
35Female65-----7C. tropicalis
36Female55-+--+2C. albicans
37Female87-----6C. albicans
38Male61----+4C. albicans
39Female78----+21C. albicans
40Female88-+--+4C. albicans
41Female75----+21C. albicans
42Female82-----23C. albicans
43Female75-+--+2C. albicans
44Male79++-Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-3C. albicans
45Male49-----9C. albicans
46Female80++-Corticosteroid-21C. albicans
47Female88----+11C. albicans
48Female76-+--+24C. albicans
49Female65-+--+7C. albicans
50Female74-+-Corticosteroid-9C. albicans
51Male80-+-Corticosteroid+6C. albicans
52Female61----+12C. albicans
53Male84-----3C. albicans
54Female90-----30C. albicans
55Female50+--Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-3C. tropicalis
56Male59-+---9C. albicans
57Female73----+10C. albicans
58Male47-----15C. albicans
59Male39----+40C. albicans
60Male63+--Corticosteroid+35C. parapsilosis
61Male77-+---15C. albicans
62Female68-+--+40C. albicans
63Female57-+---32C. albicans
64Male72----+25C. glabrata
65Male39----+26C. albicans
66Female56+--Corticosteroid-10C. albicans
67Male84----+5C. albicans
68Male69-----7C. albicans
69Female95----+5C. albicans
70Female55-+-Corticosteroid+25C. albicans
71Male59---Corticosteroid+30C. albicans
72Female73-+---6C. albicans
73Male47----+29C. albicans
74Female55++-Corticosteroid+23C. albicans
75Female87-+---20C. albicans
76Male61----+10C. albicans
77Female30---Corticosteroid+20C. tropicalis
78Female74-+---16C. albicans
79Female7----+10C. albicans
80Male43-+--+27C. albicans
81Female24----+32C. albicans
82Male70-+---15C. albicans
83Female65-+---7C. albicans
84Female69-+--+10C. albicans
85Male43++-Corticosteroid+27C. albicans
86Female38-----8C. albicans
87Female52-+---14C. albicans
88Female54----+18C. albicans
89Female30----+20C. albicans
90Male59-+--+20C. albicans
91Female40-+---10C. albicans
92Female64-----11C. albicans
93Male74---Corticosteroid+9C. albicans
94Female68-----5C. albicans
95Female83-+--+25C. albicans
96Female58---Corticosteroid-15C. albicans
97Female81-+-Corticosteroid+19C. albicans
98Female32-----6C. albicans
99Male63-----14C. albicans
100Male69-+--+7C. albicans
Gel electrophoresis of ITS-PCR amplicons of Candida species after digestion with MspI restriction enzyme. Lanes 1, 5, and 6 are C. albicans (238 and 297 bp), lane 2 is C. tropicalis (184 and 340 bp), lane 3 is C. parapsilosis (520 bp), lane 4 is C. glabrata (314 and 557 bp), and lane L is a 100-bp DNA size marker.
Gel electrophoresis of ITS-PCR amplicons of Candida species after digestion with MspI restriction enzyme. Lanes 1, 5, and 6 are C. albicans (238 and 297 bp), lane 2 is C. tropicalis (184 and 340 bp), lane 3 is C. parapsilosis (520 bp), lane 4 is C. glabrata (314 and 557 bp), and lane L is a 100-bp DNA size marker.

5. Discussion

UTI is regularly found in patients with immunosuppressive conditions, long hospitalization, and who have undergone surgical procedures. Alvarez-Lerma from Spain showed that 10% - 15% urinary tract infections in the ICU patients are caused by the Candida species and 22% of critically ill patients hospitalized for more than seven days in ICUs revealed candiduria (13). During 1995 - 2001, there was 25,000 cases of candiduria per year in the United States (14). Diabetes mellitus is a formidable risk factor for the infection, since the mucous membranes in this group are more susceptible to UTI due to immune deficiencies (15). Candida colonization was elevated in the present of nitrogenous compounds and acidic pH. In the present study, 44% of patients were diabetic as a major predisposing factor for UTI. The majority of UTI cases are catheter users (16). In accordance, all patients in the present investigation used urethral catheters. In agreement with our findings, Candida albicans is the most prevalent Candida species causing candiduria (17, 18), however there is a substantial trend to non-albicans Candida species (19, 20). A high number of cases of UTI due to the non-albicans species may be in connection with fluconazole consumption as a first line antifungal therapy because many Candida species are inherently resistant to flocuazole or susceptible only to high doses of this antifungal drug such as Candida krusei and Candida glabrata (1). The limitation of our study was the lack of determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the clinical isolates which is strongly recommended for further studies. Some studies introduce Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichosporon asahii as etiologic agents of UTI (21) but, Candida was the only fungus isolated from patients enrolled in the present investigation. A recurrent Candida UTI is a rare clinical manifestation and appears in diabetic patients or anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract (22). Diabetes mellitus is a main risk factor for development of candidemia and is reported in nearly one third of all UTI patients (23). We followed up all patients especially diabetic patients (44%) and fortunately nobody presented systemic candidiasis in the present investigation. Similar to the present study, females usually have a higher chance for candiduria and UTI (24) in connection with vulvovaginal colonization by Candida species and their anatomy (6, 25), however, in many investigations males are the predominant population among UTI patients (11, 26). Candida species are isolated from 20-60% of UTI in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and pediatric intensive care units (PICU) (27), but in the present study, the frequency of UTI among infants was only 1%. Since older individuals reveal natural modifications of the immune system, so longer hospitalization in intensive care units and use of urinary catheters was seen more commonly in this population (28, 29). Similar to most surveys in this field (6, 27), most patients in the present investigation were over 65 years old. The median absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 1.5 × 109/L is considered as neutropenia (30, 31). In the present study 11% of patients were neutropenic with the mid age of 65.2 years.

5.1. Conclusions

Patients with candiduria and UTI in ICU have increased mortality rates (13), so good management of patients depends on quick and precise intercessions. Since Candida albicans was a predominant species in the present study (94%), and it shows different sensitivities to antifungal drugs, determination of MIC for clinical isolates are recommended to determine the best choice for this potentially dangerous infection.

Acknowledgements

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