Impact of fluconazole administration on outcomes in critically ill patients.
BACKGROUND
Serious infections caused by Candida spp. are an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. It is unclear which patients will benefit from therapy and at what point to institute treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of administration of fluconazole therapy in critically ill trauma patients on mortality, length of hospital stay, incidence of deep-seated fungal infection, and positive fungal cultures from any site.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective, matched case-control study of 116 critically ill surgical trauma patients who did or did not receive fluconazole. Patients were followed until hospital discharge or death. A consecutive sample of 58 patients who received fluconazole was selected. A parallel group of patients was evaluated, from which 58 were matched with fluconazole-treated patients based on age (+/- 5 y), gender, and APACHE II score (+/- 3).


RESULTS
The groups of patients were well matched, with the exception of central venous catheter placement and broad-spectrum antibiotic use. We found no difference between groups in hospital mortality (21% vs 26%; p = 0.661) or incidence of deep-seated fungal infection (0% vs 2%; p = NS). However, patients receiving fluconazole had a significantly longer stay in both the intensive care unit (ICU) (18 +/- 13 vs 7 +/- 11 days; p < 0.001) and hospital (25 +/- 15 vs 9 +/- 11 days; p < 0.001). Fluconazole patients were significantly more likely to have Candida cultured from sites associated with colonization (43% vs 2%; p < 0.001), possibly explaining why they received fluconazole.


CONCLUSIONS
We were unable to detect a benefit from use of fluconazole in our surgical trauma patient population. Isolation of Candida from the mouth or throat alone, in the absence of correlating clinical signs of infection, should not lead to initiation of fluconazole therapy. Fluconazole use should be reserved for carefully selected patients in the trauma ICU setting.
Garrelts
James C
JC
Clinical Pharmacy Services and Research, Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS, USA. Jim.Garrelts@wesleymc.com
Schroeder
Todd R
TR
Harrison
Paul B
PB
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole