Objetivos Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados a candidemia en pacientes críticos de 7 unidades de cuidados intensivos de Colombia. Materiales y métodos Estudio de casos y controles pareado, multicéntrico, retrospectivo, en 7 unidades de cuidados intensivos de 3 hospitales universitarios. Se tomaron datos de duración de la estancia hospitalaria global (incluyendo salas generales) y en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Resultados Se incluyeron 243 participantes (81 casos y 162 controles) entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2012. Se aislaron en orden de frecuencia C. albicans, C. tropicalis y C. parapsilosis . Los principales factores de riesgo identificados fueron: tiempo de estancia hospitalaria global > 25 días (OR 5,33; IC 95% 2,6-10,9), uso de meropenem (OR 3,75; IC 95% 1,86-7,5), cirugía abdominal (OR 2,9; IC 95% 1,39-6,06) y hemodiálisis (OR 3,35; IC 95% 1,5-7,7). No se encontraron diferencias en mortalidad entre los grupos de pacientes con candidemia y el grupo control (39,5 frente a 36,5%; p = 0,66). Conclusiones Se identificaron como factores de riesgo para candidemia en Colombia la larga estancia hospitalaria, la cirugía abdominal, el uso de meropenem y la hemodiálisis. Objectives Due to the increase in isolation of Candida spp. in critically ill patients, and the high mortality and economic costs which this infection entails, a study was made of the risk factors associated to candidemia in critically ill patients from 7 intensive care units in Colombia. Materials and methods A multicenter matched case-control study was conducted in 7 intensive care units of 3 university hospitals. Data on overall length of hospital stay (including both general wards and the intensive care unit) were recorded. Results A total of 243 subjects (81 cases and 162 controls) between January 2008 and December 2012 were included. In order of frequency, C. albicans , C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis were isolated. The main identified risk factors were: overall length of hospital stay > 25 days (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.6-10.9), use of meropenem (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.86-7.5), abdominal surgery (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.39-6.06) and hemodialysis (OR 3.35, 95% CI 1.5-7.7). No differences in mortality between patients with candidemia and controls were found (39.5 vs. 36.5%, respectively, P = .66) were found. Conclusions In Colombia, a long hospital stay, abdominal surgery, the use of meropenem and hemodialysis were identified as risk factors for candidemia.