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This study examines candidemia epidemiology in Costa Rica across pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods from 2007 to 2023.

January 14, 2026Open Access

P-1736. Temporal Shifts in Candidemia Epidemiology in Costa Rica: Pre-Pandemic, Pandemic, and Post-Pandemic Analysis (2007-2023)

Key Points

This study examines candidemia epidemiology in Costa Rica across pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods from 2007 to 2023.
Analyzed 2,128 candidemia cases from two tertiary hospitals in Costa Rica.
Divided cases into three time periods: pre-pandemic (2007-2019), pandemic (2020-2021), and post-pandemic (2022-2023).
Identified significant changes in the incidence and species distribution of candidemia.
Candidemia incidence increased significantly during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic rates.
C. parapsilosis decreased in dominance while C. albicans increased significantly post-pandemic.
Mixed candidemia cases rose from none in early years to 5.6% in 2023.

Abstract

Abstract Background The epidemiology of candidemia has shown significant variations over time. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on candidemia patterns in Costa Rica.Incidence of CandidemiaIncidence of Candidemia in Costa Rica (2007-2023)Temporal EvolutionTemporal Evolution of Main Candida Species (2007-2023) Methods We analyzed 2,128 candidemia cases from two tertiary hospitals in Costa Rica across three distinct periods: pre-pandemic (2007-2019, n=1,658), pandemic (2020-2021, n=256), and post-pandemic (2022-2023, n=214). Results Candidemia incidence showed significant temporal variations: increasing from 0.119/100 discharges (2007) to 0.283/100 (2014), followed by fluctuations until rising significantly during the pandemic (0.266/100 discharges vs. 0.205/100 pre-pandemic), and subsequently decreasing post-pandemic (0.193/100). The pandemic marked a critical inflection point in species distribution (χ²=73.41, p 0.001). C. parapsilosis dominance (47.8% pre-pandemic) diminished progressively (40.6% during pandemic, 29.0% post-pandemic), while C. albicans increased (29.7%, 35.2%, and 40.2%, respectively). C. tropicalis showed sustained increases from pre-pandemic (7.8%) to post-pandemic periods (14.5%). Mixed candidemia cases increased from none (2007-2010) to 5.6% (2023), with notable absence during 2021. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant inflection point in candidemia epidemiology in Costa Rica, with persistent post-pandemic shifts in species distribution. The emergence of C. albicans as the dominant species over C. parapsilosis post-pandemic represents a significant epidemiological transition with important clinical implications for empirical treatment strategies and infection control practices. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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