title: Initial management of candidemia at an academic medical center: evaluation of the IDSA guidelines.
abstract: Treatment of candidemia is more complicated because of the changing epidemiology of Candida and introduction of newer antifungal agents. Utilization and benefit of practice guidelines and infectious disease consultation for the management of candidemia has not been previously described in the routine clinical setting. We prospectively studied the impact of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines for the management of candidemia and infectious disease consultation on clinical outcomes in 119 patients with candidemia at a tertiary care hospital. Medical records were reviewed to capture data concerning use of antifungal agents, management of central venous catheters, and infectious disease consultation. Initial antifungal therapy was consistent with the IDSA guidelines in 76% of patients. Variation from the guidelines was independently associated with higher mortality (24% versus 57%, P = 0.003). Infectious disease consultation was independently associated with lower mortality (18% versus 39%, P < 0.01). Use of the IDSA guidelines and infectious disease consultation service was found to improve patient outcomes in patients with candidemia at our institution. Further studies should be performed to validate newer guidelines in a clinical setting at other institutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, USA.
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Danielle F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: Vivek M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Marga G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Baddley
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents