RISK-FACTORS FOR DEATH AMONG CANCER-PATIENTS WITH FUNGEMIA

In order to identify prognostic factors for death among cancer patient s with fungemia, an 18-month survey of fungemia in patients with cance r was undertaken in three hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, For the assessm ent of risk factors for death, the following variables were analyzed: age; gender; underlying cancer; last treatment for the underlying dise ase; previous surgery; use of antibiotics, antifungal agents, steroids , or total parenteral nutrition; use of a central venous catheter; che motherapy; radiotherapy; presence and duration of neutropenia; etiolog ic agent of the fungemia; treatment of the fungemia; clinical manifest ations; and performance status (Karnofsky score) on the day of the pos itive blood culture, In multivariate analysis, the variables associate d with an increased risk for death were older age, persistent neutrope nia, and low performance status. Identifying risk factors for death ma y help to define a group of high-risk patients for whom new therapeuti c options should be tried.