title: Fungemia: analysis of 43 cases.
abstract: This report reviews the cases of 43 patients with 48 episodes of fungemia, and examines the clinical significance of fungemia and the results of treatment. All episodes were nosocomial infections. Candida albicans (60.4%), Candida parapsilosis (16.7%), and Candida tropicals (14.6%) were the most common fungal pathogens isolated from blood cultures. Patients with Candida albicans had a better survival rate than those with other species (p = 0.011). Polymicrobial fungemia was noted in 5 patients (11.6%). Most patients had underlying diseases and predisposing factors. Intravascular catheters (100%), broad-spectrum antibiotics administration (100%), surgical procedures (46.5%) and total parental alimentation (41.9%) were the most common predisposing factors. The clinical manifestations were not characteristic and consisted of nonspecific signs of sepsis. The overall mortality rate was 79%. We did not find any improvement in the mortality rate of our patients treated with amphotericin B. Early recognization, immediate removal of predisposing factors, and correction of underlying conditions is most important for patients with fungemia. We also suggest that fungal infection should be considered early when a febrile patient at high risk dose not improve with broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy