Occurrence, presentation and treatment of candidemia

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2012 Nov;8(8):755-65. doi: 10.1586/eci.12.52.

Abstract

Candida is one of the most common causes of nosocomial bloodstream infections. Candidemia is not confined to hematological patients, intensive care units or abdominal surgery wards, but it is remarkably frequent in the internal medicine setting. High mortality associated with candidemia can be reduced by prompt, appropriate antifungal therapy. The epidemiology of species has been shifting toward non-albicans strains. Significant improvements in nonculture-based diagnostic methods, such as serological markers, have been made in recent years, and novel diagnostic techniques should be further studied to enable early pre-emptive therapy. Treatment guidelines indicate that echinocandins are at present the best choice for patients who are severely ill or possibly infected with fluconazole-resistant strains.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Candida* / classification
  • Candida* / isolation & purification
  • Candida* / pathogenicity
  • Candidemia* / diagnosis
  • Candidemia* / drug therapy
  • Candidemia* / epidemiology
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Echinocandins / pharmacology
  • Echinocandins / therapeutic use*
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Prevalence
  • Serologic Tests

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Fluconazole