Prevalence of Fungal Urinary Tract Infections in Madinah Region

Abstract

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent illnesses, affecting more than 404.6 million people globally, representing around 5.23% of the total global population. Forty percent of UTIs are caused by fungi. Candida albicans, which is naturally found on the human body, commonly causes candiduria in predisposed individuals. Aim This study aims to enhance understanding of the risk factors, clinical manifestations, and appropriate management of fungal UTIs. We hypothesized an increase in the prevalence of fungal disease in UTIs (FUTIs) in Madinah region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods The study uses an observational-retrospective approach and includes all hospitalized patients with positive fungal urine cultures across all departments from June 2016 to October 2019. The prevalence, incidence, and comorbidity of FUTIs are investigated through data collection from King Fahd Hospital in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Results The study, based on 87,447 admissions over 7 years, found a prevalence of FUTIs of 0.052% in the patients. The incidence rate began at 5.4 per 1000 individuals in 2016 and dramatically increased to 206 per 1000 individuals by 2019. This represents an approximately 40-fold increase over the initial rate. C. albicans was the most identified organism, accounting for 86.9% of the cases. The most prevalent comorbidity observed was renal system diseases. Conclusion The study highlights the increase of FUTIs, and the importance of understanding the risk factors to apply preventative measures and ensure prompt and effective intervention. It also underscores the need for continuous monitoring of FUTI in other Madinah hospitals and in Saudi Arabia