Background: Invasive fungal infections, such as candidemia, caused by Candida species have been increasing. Candidemia is not only associated with a high mortality (30% to 40%) but also extends the length of hospital stay and increases the costs of medical care. Sepsis caused by Candida species is clinically indistinguishable from bacterial infections. Although, the clinical presentations of the patients with candidemia caused by Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species (NAC) are indistinguishable, the susceptibilities to antifungal agents of these species are different. In this study, we attempted to identify the risk factors for candidemia caused by C. albicans and NAC in the hope that this may guide initial empiric therapy.

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By using the data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey and the National Heath Insurance database in Taiwan, this study aims at investigating the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with different health care choices. This study incorporated hierarchical cluster analysis into multiple correspondent analysis to determine 5 attribute clusters of socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with different health care choices. This study found that older women with higher education levels were more likely to choose multiple sources of health care and that low- to middle-income people were more likely to use over-the-counter medications in pharmacies. In addition, people's self-reported health care choices were inconsistent with their observed health care seeking behavior. The health policy authority may need to provide more health promotion education programs, especially for older women with higher educational levels, and funding incentives for quality of care provided rather than relying solely on reimbursements for episodic care.

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