Nosocomial candidaemias due to species other than Candida albicans in cancer patients - Aetiology, risk factors, and outcome of 45 episodes within 10years in a single cancer institution

Forty-five cases of fungaemia due non-albicans Candida spp. (NAC) in a sing le National Cancer Institution within 10 years were analysed for aetiology, risk factors and outcome. There had been 12 cases of fungaemia that were d ue to C. krusei, 14 due to C. parapsilosis, 7 due to C. (T.) glabrata, 6 to C. tropicalis, 2 to C. guillermondii, 2 to C. lusitaniae, 1 to C. stellato idea, and 1 to C. rugosa. Comparison of 45 NAC fungaemia with 75 episodes o f C. albicans fungaemia revealed differences only in two risk factors: prev ious empiric therapy with amphotericin B (16.0 vs 2.2%, P < 0.01) appeared more frequently in cases of C. albicans fungaemia, and prior prophylaxis wi th fluconazole (8.9 vs 0%, P < 0.02) was conversely more frequently observe d with NAG. The incidence of other risk factors, such as underlying disease , chemotherapy, antibiotic prophylaxis or therapy, treatment with corticost eroids, catheter insertion, mucositis, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and neutrope nia, was similar in both groups. There was no difference either in attribut able or in overall mortality between NAC and C. albisans fungaemia in our c ancer patients.