Low incidence of candidaemia among neutropenic patients treated for haematological diseases

Candida colonization and haematogenous infection were studied retrospective ly in 277 patients with haematological diseases by reviewing the microbiolo gical reports of fungal surveillance and blood cultures over a 4-year perio d. Most patients (83%) were colonized by Candida and in the majority (68%) the same Candida species was isolated from at least 2 body sites. However, candidaemia was diagnosed in only 3 patients. During the same period invasi ve aspergillosis was diagnosed in 7 patients, Possible causes for the low i ncidence of candidaemia were fluconazole prophylaxis, empirical amphoterici n B and strict indication for antibacterial therapy.