Epidemiological profile of funguria in an University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco

Background and Purpose: The presence of yeasts in the urine is not synonymous with urinary tract infection since it can result in simple colonization or contamination. Regarding this, it is required to further clarify the epidemiological profile of funguria. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to establish the epidemiology of funguria in the Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Oujda, Morocco. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on all urine samples sent for cytobacteriological examination to a microbiology laboratory over a period of ۲۸ months (i.e., from March ۲۰۱۶ to June ۲۰۱۸). After the removal of duplicates, the urine samples were treated according to the recommendations of the medical microbiology standards. Results: A total of ۱۵,۱۶۵ urine samples were collected. Urinary colonization accounted for ۴.۹۴% (n=۷۴۹) of cases. The infections of the urinary tract accounted for ۵.۳۵% (n=۸۱۱) of cases. Microbial isolates (n=۱,۶۶۹) in colonization and urinary tract infections were dominated by bacteria (۹۳.۴۷%, n=۱,۵۶۰). Furthermore, the yeasts accounted for ۶.۵۳% (n=۱۰۹) of the isolates. Candida albicans was isolated from ۵۶.۸۸% (n=۶۲) of funguria cases. The risk factors for funguria in our series were essentially old age, admission to intensive care unit, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: The current level of knowledge about the clinical situations leading to funguria with the improvement and popularization of efficient identification techniques for yeasts other than C. albicans should redress the epidemiology of funguria. This should allow the knowledgeable societies to establish the rules of interpreting the cytobacteriological examination of the urine in case of funguria, as for bacteriuria.

Keywords:

funguria , Infection , Urinary tract infection , Urine , Yeast