ABSTRACT Candida species are responsible for most fungal infections in intensive care units and of severe cases of nosocomial bloodstream infections in the world. Candidemia is one of the leading causes of mortality in immunocompromised hosts, diabetics, neonates and surgical patients. Candida albicans is regarded as the principal fungi causing infections in humans. Nevertheless, other Candida species such as Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata, are increasingly being recognized as important agents of human infection. Relatively little is known about the factors that influence the variability in the frequency of the colonization by Candida in a particular population. Previous studies have shown the importance of elucidating the mechanisms of adhesion among the emerging species of non-albicans Candida which present demographic characteristics peculiar to the different geographic regions where they have been isolated. The goal of this review is to determine whether there is a correlation between the species of Candida and its ability to preferentially colonize one population over another. The results of this study suggest the correlation between the incidence of Candida species infection, their ability to form biofilms and the blood types prevalent in different countries.
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