title: Therapy and outcome of Candida glabrata versus Candida albicans bloodstream infection.
abstract: Candida glabrata is a common cause of bloodstream infection (BSI) and exhibits reduced susceptibility to antifungal agents. Those with C. glabrata BSI may therefore be at increased risk for a delay in receiving appropriate therapy and poor treatment outcome. We compared treatment and outcome of patients with C. glabrata to controls with Candida albicans BSI. Each patient with C. glabrata BSI from July 1997 through December 2004 was matched with a control patient infected with C. albicans. Appropriateness of therapy was defined using current guidelines, and the mortality end point was 30 days following the initial positive blood culture. Overall, 78% of patients received appropriate therapy (39/54 [72%] for C. glabrata versus 45/54 [83%] for C. albicans, P = 0.2). Crude 30-day mortality was high for both groups (41% for C. glabrata versus 44% for C. albicans, P = 0.7). There was no trend in mortality according to time of therapy initiation, but mortality was lower for those who received appropriate therapy (35% versus 71% for inappropriate therapy, P = 0.002). Twelve percent of patients received no antifungal therapy and contributed disproportionately to overall crude mortality. Strategies to decrease the incidence of untreated candidemia may favorably impact outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Klevay
authors.forename: Erika J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Jesse L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hollanbaugh
authors.forename: Joshua G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pfaller
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Diekema
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents