Adequacy of empirical antifungal therapy and effect on outcome among patients with invasive Candida species infections.
OBJECTIVE
Although inadequate antimicrobial therapy has been demonstrated in multiple studies to increase the risk for death in bacterial infections, few data investigating the effect of antifungal therapy on outcome of serious fungal disease are available. We sought to assess the adequacy of empirical therapy and its effect on mortality in invasive Candida species infections.


METHODS
Population-based surveillance of all patients with Candida spp. cultured from blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid was conducted. Adequacy of empirical therapy was assessed according to published guidelines.


RESULTS
During a 5 year period, 207 patients had an invasive Candida spp. infection identified; in 199 cases (96%) adequate data were available for assessment of treatment and outcome at hospital discharge. One hundred and three (52%) cases were due to Candida albicans, 44 (22%) were due to Candida glabrata and the remainder were due to other species. Between the time of culture draw and reporting of a positive culture, only 64 (32%) patients were treated with empirical therapy; this was deemed adequate in 51 (26%). Patients who received adequate empirical therapy had a significant decrease in crude mortality [14/51 (27%) versus 68/148 (46%); risk ratio 0.60 (95% confidence interval 0.37-0.96); P = 0.02]. After adjusting for age and the need for intensive care unit admission in logistic regression analysis, the use of adequate empirical therapy was independently associated with a reduced risk for death [odds ratio 0.46 (95% confidence interval 0.22-1.00); P = 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate empirical therapy is used in a minority of patients with invasive Candida spp. infections but is associated with improved survival.
Parkins
Michael D
MD
Department of Medicine, Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sabuda
Deana M
DM
Elsayed
Sameer
S
Laupland
Kevin B
KB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002138:Calibration; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000935:Antifungal Agents