Risk factors for albicans and non-albicans candidemia in the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk factors for bloodstream infections (BSI) with Candida non-albicans (C-NA) species and Candida albicans (CA) among critically ill patients.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Adult medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) at two university hospitals.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with C-NA and CA BSIs from 1995-2005 formed the two case groups. Controls were patients without candidemia who were randomly selected in a ratio of 5:1 and matched by study hospital, ICU type (medical vs. surgical) and by ICU admission date within a 3-month period.


METHODS
Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, exposure to antibiotics and antifungals, and ICU factors such as total parenteral nutrition (TPN), blood product transfusions, invasive procedures, central venous catheters, hemodialysis, and mechanical ventilation. We built multivariable logistic regression models, which identified risk factors for C-NA or CA BSIs compared with controls. Variables were adjusted for time-at-risk.


RESULTS
There were 67 patients with C-NA BSIs, 79 patients with CA BSIs, and 780 controls. In multivariable models, factors associated with an increased risk of C-NA compared with controls included major pre-ICU operations [odds ratio; (95% confidence interval)] [2.12; (1.14-3.97)], gastrointestinal procedures [2.24; (1.49-3.38)], enteric bacteremia [3.43; (1.39-8.48)], number of hemodialysis days [6.20; (2.67-14.4)], TPN duration [2.87; (1.40-5.90)], and mean number of red blood cell transfusions [2.72; (1.33-5.58)]. Factors associated with an increased risk of CA BSIs compared to controls were very similar and included major ICU operations [1.26; (1.14-3.97)], enteric bacteremia [3.45; (1.38-8.63)], number of hemodialysis days [3.84; (1.75-8.40)], TPN duration [11.0; (5.52-21.7)] and mean number of red blood cell transfusions [1.97; (0.98-3.99)].


CONCLUSIONS
We found multiple common risk factors for both non-C. albicans and C. albicans BSIs, however we could not differentiate between these two groups based on clinical characteristics alone.
Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. jchow@tufts-nemc.org
Jennifer K
JK
Chow
Yoav
Y
Golan
Robin
R
Ruthazer
Adolf W
AW
Karchmer
Yehuda
Y
Carmeli
Deborah A
DA
Lichtenberg
Varun
V
Chawla
Janet A
JA
Young
Susan
S
Hadley
D002177:Candidiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008500:Medical Records Department, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors