Eighty-six consecutive patients with fungaemia were studied during a period
of 2 years, 81% had two or more positive blood cultures. Gastrointestinal
tract (28%) and haematological diseases (17%) were the most common underlyi
ng conditions. The majority of cases had received vancomycin and/or imipene
m (87%) and a central venous catheter (78%). Candida albicans (50%) and Can
dida parapsilosis (17%) were the most frequent isolates. Overall mortality
was 41%, and for patients with Candida tropicalis was 71%. There was no sig
nificant difference in survival with gender, age and days of treatment with
antifungal drugs. Haematological diseases, neutropenia and a higher number
of positive blood cultures were associated with poor outcome. (C) 2000 The
Hospital Infection Society.