Candida colonization and systemic infection in neutropenic patients. A retrospective study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The results of surveillance cultures in 424 neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between colonization and infection by Candida species. Eighteen (32%) of 56 patients with multiple noncontiguous colonized sites developed proven (13 cases) or probable (five cases) systemic candidiasis, versus two patients with proven candidiasis (1.2%) of 170 with one colonized site (P < 0.00000001), and one patient with proven candidiasis (0.5%) of 198 without any evidence of Candida colonization (P < 0.00000001). Twenty-two patients with multiple colonized sites who developed a febrile episode resistant to antibiotics were treated with empiric amphotericin B. Nine of 11 given empiric amphotericin B within day 6 survived versus three of 11 receiving antifungal therapy after day 6 (P = 0.014). The above data seem to justify further prospective studies on Candida colonization as indication to early antifungal therapy in febrile neutropenic patients.