Microbiological signals from a tertiary ICU: gram-negative dominance and the emergence of candida parapsilosis in device-associated infections

This letter presents a five-year retrospective analysis of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) episodes in a tertiary anesthesia intensive care unit (ICU) between 2020 and 2024. Among 343 documented HAI episodes, ventilator-associated pneumonia and central line–associated bloodstream infections were the most frequent clinical presentations. Microbiological data revealed a significant predominance of Gram-negative pathogens, specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Additionally, the emergence of Candida parapsilosis as a recurrent isolate was noted, highlighting potential concerns regarding catheter-related transmission. These findings emphasize the necessity of monitoring local pathogen ecology to guide infection control strategies and empiric antimicrobial therapy in the ICU. Sharing such microbiological signals is crucial for recognizing evolving trends in healthcare-associated infections.