Candiduria; a review article with specific data from Iran.

Although, several categories of nosocomial infections are presented during the recent years, urinary tract infections (UTIs) considered as one of the most important systemic infections. The presence of Candida species in the urinary tract system (Candiduria) is seen in only 10-15% of the cases with UTI, however candiduria has been considered as more problematic infection for patients, laboratory workers and physicians. Due to increasing numbers of several predisposing factors, such as antibacterial agents, urinary tract instrumentation, diabetes mellitus, invasive therapies, and prolonged hospital stay, candiduria develops among the hospitalized patients, especially hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). According to the epidemiological studies, Candida albicans is the most common isolated species from candiduric patients. However, during the recent years, due to increasing resistance to antifungal drugs, non-albicans Candida species including, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis have been also implicated. We found that the mean prevalence of candiduria among Iranian patients was lower (16.5%) than worldwide ratio and also males were more frequently affected than females (M:F, 1.2:1). Similar to other countries, C. albicans was most common infectious agent followed by non-albicans Candida species including, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. krusei.