FREQUENCY OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: To determine and compare the frequency of fungal infections among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1–3, CKD stages 4–5, and patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis. Study Design: Cross-Sectional Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Nephrology, Dow University Hospital Ojha Campus, Karachi from August 2025 to January 2026. Methodology: A total of 139 adult CKD patients aged 18 to 60 years were enrolled through consecutive nonprobability sampling. Serum beta-D-glucan and galactomannan were measured to define IFI. Data were analysed using SPSS-26 with Chi square or Fisher exact test, taking p<0.05 as significant. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 44.76 ± 13.26 years, with 88 (63.3%) male participants. IFI was identified in 15 (10.8%) patients overall. Among IFI-positive patients, 40.0% belonged to CKD stage 1–3, 33.3% to CKD stage 4–5, and 26.7% were receiving maintenance haemodialysis. Mean serum creatinine was higher in IFI positive than IFI negative patients (6.96 ± 2.90 vs 6.03 ± 3.37 mg/dL), although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.308). Conclusion: Invasive fungal infection was identified in 10.8% of CKD patients overall. Among patients with IFI, 40.0% belonged to CKD stage 1–3, 33.3% to CKD stage 4–5, and 26.7% were receiving maintenance haemodialysis. No baseline characteristic, including serum creatinine, showed a statistically significant association with invasive fungal infection. Whether routine biomarker screening across the spectrum of chronic kidney disease improves clinical outcomes cannot be inferred from these descriptive data and requires evaluation in adequately powered prospective studies.