Fungemia in a University Hospital 1984–1988

Abstract

118 episodes of fungemia occurring at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, between 1984 and 1988 were reviewed retrospectively. Underlying diseases in the patients were dominated by malignancies, primarily hematological disorders, and intraabdominal diseases requiring major abdominal surgery. Predisposing factors identified in the patients were ongoing antibacterial chemotherapy (83%), central venous catheters (72%), major abdominal surgery (39%), and neutropenia (32%). 120 fungal strains were isolated, of which 88 (73%) were Candida albicans. 23 strains representing 8 other Candida species were also isolated, as were 9 strains belonging to 7 other fungal genera. There were only 5 strains resistant to 5-fluorocytosine (MICs ≥ 25 mg/l), and no strain was resistant to amphotericin B. Treatment with antifungal agents was given in 78 patients, generally a combination of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. In 14 patients (all non-hematological) the only treatment was removal of a permanent central venous catheter. The outcome was poor in patients with hematological disorders (mortality 76%), whereas patients with malignant and non-malignant intraabdominal diseases had a mortality of 35%. All patients with a permanent central venous catheter as the only risk factor recovered rapidly after removal of the catheter.