Prospective study ofCandida colonization, use of empiric amphotericin B and development of invasive mycosis in neutropenic patients

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The association between colonization withCandida spp., subsequent occurrence of invasive candidiasis and empiric use of amphotericin B was investigated prospectively in 139 neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies. Treatment with amphotericin B was required in 67 % of patients colonized in multiple non-contiguous body sites (multicolonized) versus 31 % of patients colonized in single or contiguous sites (monocolonized) and in 21 % of non-colonized patients (p=0.0037 and p=0.00026, respectively). Invasive candidiasis was documented in 22.2 % of multicolonized versus 4.8 % of monocolonized patients and in none of the non-colonized patients (p=0.035 and p=0.0036, respectively). Analysis of the spectrum of colonizingCandida spp. showed that multicolonized subjects were colonized with increased frequency byCandida albicans compared to monocolonized subjects, and that the association between multicolonization, invasive candidiasis and amphotericin B usage was statistically significant in patients colonized byCandida albicans but not in patients colonized by otherCandida species. The association betweenCandida multicolonization and the occurrence ofCandida infection seems to be confirmed by a double-blind placebo-controlled study performed in a small subgroup of the multicolonized patients treated with fluconazole.