The authors evaluate the occurrence of candida infections in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a one-year period. From the group of 1798 patients hospitalized in a surgical ICU there are 50 patients (2.8%) with candida colonisation and even 56 patients (3.1%) with candida infection. The authors evaluate risk factors for development of candida infection, its etiologic agents and the most frequent site of infection. In addition to usual treatment the authors suggest pre-emptive therapy in patients with risk factors. In the one-year period, two patients died of multiorgan failure (MOF) in close connection with candida infection (sepsis). The mortality of the group with proved candida infection was 3.57%.

        Key words: Candida - candida infection - candida colonisation - intensive care