RESUMO
The risk of being infected by candidiasis in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is evaluated, using an algorithm which allows the establishment of an early fungicidal treatment. This is a study which includes 34 patients with a mortality of 35%. Yeasts are detected from the second week at ICU, related with the long stay of patients at ICU and the relationship between mortality and age. The first positive sample usually does not indicate disseminate candidiasis (9%) or a positive blood culture (6%). Population defined as high risk for disseminated candidiasis (HRDC) with a negative blood culture has the worst prognosis (18 cases, 50% mortality rate). The six cases with HRDC with positive blood culture showed a mortality of 17%. In seven cases there were no HRDC criteria (mortality of 14%). With said study the existence or not of a HRDC could be determined, establishing the adequate antifungal treatment.