Candidemia before and during the fluconazole era: prevalence, type of species and approach to treatment in a tertiary care community hospital.
The characteristics of candidemia before and after the introduction of fluconazole were compared at our institution. In the pre-fluconazole era (1986-89), the incidence of candidemia rose from 0.02% to 13% over the course of 4 y. Candida albicans accounted for 44/66 isolates (67%) and C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis were the predominant non-albicans species (9% each). In one-third of cases antifungal therapy was not given and the overall mortality rate was 55%. During the fluconazole era (1994-97), the incidence of candidemia remained constant between 1994 and 1996 at 0.09-0.11% and dropped to 0.06% in 1997. Bloodstream infection associated with neutropenia increased significantly but only accounted for 13% of cases; antifungal prophylaxis was not employed. The isolation of C. albicans decreased (n = 49; 50%) whereas isolation of both C. parapsilosis (n = 23; 24%) and C. tropicalis (n = 16; 16%) increased. The vast majority of patients received antifungal therapy and the overall mortality rate was 39%. These findings show that the incidence of candidemia rose steadily prior to the fluconazole era and then stabilized in spite of a shift towards non-albicans species. When candidemia was encountered in the fluconazole era, it was rare not to give antifungal treatment.
Baran
J
J
St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan 48236, USA.
Muckatira
B
B
Khatib
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole