Fluconazole prophylaxis prevents intra-abdominal candidiasis in high-risk surgical patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous fluconazole for the prevention of intra-abdominal Candida infections in high-risk surgical patients.


METHODS
Randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
Two university-affiliated hospitals in Switzerland.


METHODS
Forty-nine surgical patients with recurrent gastrointestinal perforations or anastomotic leakages.


METHODS
Prophylaxis with intravenous fluconazole (400 mg per day) or placebo continued until resolution of the underlying surgical condition.


RESULTS
Patients were evaluated daily, and specimens for culture were obtained three times per week during prophylaxis. The primary study end points were the frequency of and the time to intra-abdominal Candida infections. Secondary end points were the frequency of candidiasis (intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal) and the emergence or persistence of Candida colonization. Among patients who were not colonized at study entry, Candida was isolated from surveillance cultures during prophylaxis in 15% of the patients in the fluconazole group and in 62% of the patients in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.07 to 0.96; p = .04). Candida peritonitis occurred in one of 23 patients (4%) who received fluconazole and in seven of 20 patients (35%) who received placebo (relative risk, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02 to 0.93; p = .02). In addition, one catheter-related Candida albicans sepsis occurred in a fluconazole-treated patient. Thus, overall, candidiasis developed in two fluconazole patients and seven placebo patients (relative risk, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 1.06; p = .06). C. albicans accounted for 87% of the Candida species isolated before or during prophylaxis, and all C. albicans strains were susceptible to fluconazole. Fluconazole was well tolerated, and adverse events occurred at similar frequencies in both treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluconazole prophylaxis prevents colonization and invasive intra-abdominal Candida infections in high-risk surgical patients.
Department of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
P
P
Eggimann
P
P
Francioli
J
J
Bille
R
R
Schneider
M M
MM
Wu
G
G
Chapuis
R
R
Chiolero
A
A
Pannatier
J
J
Schilling
S
S
Geroulanos
M P
MP
Glauser
T
T
Calandra
D000005:Abdomen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003422:Critical Care; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole