Background: Candidemia disease in Chile is not very known, despite being a very common and serious disease. Aim: To analyze incidence and susceptibility profile of species from the genus Candida in Hospital Base Valdivia. Material and Methods: All candidemia cases presented between March 2009 and August 2011 in our institution were identified. Species distribution and susceptibility were studied through the disk diffusion method. Results: Twenty-seven candidemia episodes were studied. Incidence varied from 0.3 to 0.7 by a thousand discharges (according to clinical service). Risk factors were hospitalization, preliminary use of antibiotics, aged people and underlying disease (renal failure, heart and lung disease). The most frequent species was C. albicans, followed by C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. Voriconazole was the antifungal showing the best in vitro performance. Amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole presented variable results. Discussion: Incidence found was superior to that described in developed countries. Candida albicans constitute the most frequent species, with high sensitivity levels to fluconazole; Candida no albicans species must be monitored. Developing new research on the topic appears as fundamental to detect potential epidemiological variations.

Resumen Introducción: La epidemiología de la candidemia en Chile es poco conocida, a pesar de ser una enfermedad frecuente y grave. Objetivos: Analizar la incidencia y perfil de susceptibilidad in vitro de especies del género Candida causantes de candidemia en el Hospital Base Valdivia. Material y Métodos: Se identificó todos los casos de candidemia ocurridos en la institución entre marzo de 2009 y agosto de 2011. Se estudió la distribución de especies y susceptibilidad in vitro por el método de disco difusión. Resultados: Se estudiaron 27 episodios de candidemia. La incidencia varió de 0,3 a 0,7 por 1.000 egresos (según servicio clínico). Fueron factores de riesgo: la hospitalización, uso previo de antimicrobianos, edad avanzada y enfermedad de base (insuficiencia renal, enfermedad cardiaca y pulmonar). La especie más frecuente fue C. albicans seguida de C. tropicalis, C. glabrata y C. krusei. Voriconazol fue el antifúngico con mejor actividad in vitro y hubo resultados variables para anfotericina B, fluconazol e itraconazol. Discusión: La incidencia encontrada fue superior a la de países desarrollados. Candida albicans, constituye la especie más frecuente, con alta sensibilidad in vitro a fluconazol, debiendo ser vigiladas las especies de Candida no albicans. Es fundamental desarrollar nuevas investigaciones para detectar potenciales variaciones epidemiológicas.

AIM: To compare the dimensions of quality of life in the stages of chronic kidney disease and the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data. INTRODUCTION: The information available on the quality of life of patients on conservative treatment and the relationship between the quality of life and glomerular filtration rate is limited. METHODS: 155 patients in stages 1-5 of chronic kidney disease and 36 in hemodialysis were studied. Quality of life was rated by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item (SF-36) and functional status by the Karnofsky Performance Scale. Clinical, laboratory and sociodemographic variables were investigated. RESULTS: Quality of life decreased in all stages of kidney disease. A reduction in physical functioning, physical role functioning and in the physical component summary was observed progressively in the different stages of kidney disease. Individuals with higher educational level who were professionally active displayed higher physical component summary values, whereas men and those with a higher income presented better mental component summary values. Older patients performed worse on the physical component summary and better on the mental component summary. Hemoglobin levels correlated with higher physical component summary values and the Karnofsky scale. Three or more comorbidities had an impact on the physical dimension. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is decreased in renal patients in the early stages of disease. No association was detected between the stages of the disease and the quality of life. It was possible to establish sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory risk factors for a worse quality of life in this population.