Resumen

PANIZO, M. M.; REVIAKINA, V.; DOLANDE, M.  y  MALDONADO, B.. Yeasts isolation in clinical samples: Mycology Department of National Hygiene Institute "Rafael Rangel" casuistic (1996-2001).. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2002, vol.22, n.1, pp.57-63. ISSN 1315-2556.

The increase of yeast infections is a growing worldwide phenomena and Venezuela does not escape from it. The scope of this work was to determine the yeast isolation frequency from clinical samples in the Mycology Department of the National Hygiene Institute "Rafael Rangel". The culture reports were retrospectively checked from clinical samples processed in the department between the years of 1996 to 2001, and were selected those that evidenced yeast infection by direct exam and culture media isolation. The samples came from hospitalized and ambulatory patients, and the isolated yeasts were identified using the conventional and automatized methodology. From a total of 1226 samples received for culture, 441 (36%) were positive to yeast isolation. Candida albicans was the more frequently isolated yeast, followed by C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. Between the other yeast genus outstanded the Cryptococcus neoformans and Thichosporon beigelii isolations. It was observed an important increase in the isolation frequencies of other Candida species, which is probably linked to patient immunosuppression conditions and the empirical treatment with wide spectra antibiotics and antimycotics, generating a mutation and selective pressure phenomena in this yeasts. The high yeast isolation percentage in clinical samples states the need to know the epidemiology of these infections. To get this is indispensable the correct and opportune identification of the yeasts; based on this fact will be possible to stablish the therapeutic and preventive guidelines.

Palabras clave : Casuística; levaduras; Candida albicans.