This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Morrell, M.
Right arrow Articles by Kollef, M. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Morrell, M.
Right arrow Articles by Kollef, M. H.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
Medline Plus Health Information
*Yeast Infections

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2005, p. 3640-3645, Vol. 49, No. 9
0066-4804/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.49.9.3640-3645.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Delaying the Empiric Treatment of Candida Bloodstream Infection until Positive Blood Culture Results Are Obtained: a Potential Risk Factor for Hospital Mortality

Matthew Morrell,1 Victoria J. Fraser,2 and Marin H. Kollef1*

Pulmonary and Critical Care Division,1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 631102

Received 2 May 2005/ Returned for modification 21 May 2005/ Accepted 6 June 2005

Fungal bloodstream infections are associated with significant patient mortality and health care costs. Nevertheless, the relationship between a delay of the initial empiric antifungal treatment until blood culture results are known and the clinical outcome is not well established. A retrospective cohort analysis with automated patient medical records and the pharmacy database at Barnes-Jewish Hospital was conducted. One hundred fifty-seven patients with a Candida bloodstream infection were identified over a 4-year period (January 2001 through December 2004). Fifty (31.8%) patients died during hospitalization. One hundred thirty-four patients had empiric antifungal treatment begun after the results of fungal cultures were known. From the time that the first blood sample for culture that was positive was drawn, 9 (5.7%) patients received antifungal treatment within 12 h, 10 (6.4%) patients received antifungal treatment between 12 and 24 h, 86 (54.8%) patients received antifungal treatment between 24 and 48 h, and 52 (33.1%) patients received antifungal treatment after 48 h. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (one-point increments) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 1.31; P < 0.001), prior antibiotic treatment (AOR, 4.05; 95% CI, 2.14 to 7.65; P = 0.028), and administration of antifungal treatment 12 h after having the first positive blood sample for culture (AOR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.53 to 2.84; P = 0.018) as independent determinants of hospital mortality. Administration of empiric antifungal treatment 12 h after a positive blood sample for culture is drawn is common among patients with Candida bloodstream infections and is associated with greater hospital mortality. Delayed treatment of Candida bloodstream infections could be minimized by the development of more rapid diagnostic techniques for the identification of Candida bloodstream infections. Alternatively, increased use of empiric antifungal treatment in selected patients at high risk for fungal bloodstream infection could also reduce delays in treatment.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8052, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: (314) 454-8764. Fax: (314) 454-5571. E-mail: mkollef{at}im.wustl.edu.


Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2005, p. 3640-3645, Vol. 49, No. 9
0066-4804/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.49.9.3640-3645.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.




This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Ferrer, R., Artigas, A., Suarez, D., Palencia, E., Levy, M. M., Arenzana, A., Perez, X. L., Sirvent, J.-M., for the Edusepsis Study Group, (2009). Effectiveness of Treatments for Severe Sepsis: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 180: 861-866 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sakka, S. G., Kochem, A.-J., Disque, C., Wellinghausen, N. (2009). Blood Infection Diagnosis by 16S rDNA Broad-Spectrum Polymerase Chain Reaction: The Relationship Between Antibiotic Treatment and Bacterial DNA Load. Anesth. Analg. 109: 1707-1708 [Full Text]  
  • Pfaller, M. A., Messer, S. A., Hollis, R. J., Boyken, L., Tendolkar, S., Kroeger, J., Diekema, D. J. (2009). Variation in Susceptibility of Bloodstream Isolates of Candida glabrata to Fluconazole According to Patient Age and Geographic Location in the United States in 2001 to 2007. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 3185-3190 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zaragoza, R., Peman, J., Quindos, G., Iruretagoyena, J. R., Cuetara, M. S., Ramirez, P., Gomez, M. D., Camarena, J. J., Viudes, A., Ponton, J., on behalf of the Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibo, (2009). Kinetic Patterns of Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibody in Critically Ill Patients: Influence on Mortality. CVI 16: 1527-1528 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Soeta, N., Terashima, M., Gotoh, M., Mori, S., Nishiyama, K., Ishioka, K., Kaneko, H., Suzutani, T. (2009). An improved rapid quantitative detection and identification method for a wide range of fungi. J Med Microbiol 58: 1037-1044 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zhao, Y., Park, S., Kreiswirth, B. N., Ginocchio, C. C., Veyret, R., Laayoun, A., Troesch, A., Perlin, D. S. (2009). Rapid Real-Time Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification-Molecular Beacon Platform To Detect Fungal and Bacterial Bloodstream Infections. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 2067-2078 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Verweij, P. E., Maertens, J. (2009). Moulds: diagnosis and treatment. J Antimicrob Chemother 63: i31-i35 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lawrence, K. L., Kollef, M. H. (2009). Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Intensive Care Unit: Advances and Obstacles. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 179: 434-438 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Tumbarello, M., Sanguinetti, M., Trecarichi, E. M., La Sorda, M., Rossi, M., de Carolis, E., de Gaetano Donati, K., Fadda, G., Cauda, R., Posteraro, B. (2008). Fungaemia caused by Candida glabrata with reduced susceptibility to fluconazole due to altered gene expression: risk factors, antifungal treatment and outcome. J Antimicrob Chemother 62: 1379-1385 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pfaller, M. A., Boyken, L. B., Hollis, R. J., Kroeger, J., Messer, S. A., Tendolkar, S., Diekema, D. J. (2008). Validation of 24-Hour Fluconazole MIC Readings versus the CLSI 48-Hour Broth Microdilution Reference Method: Results from a Global Candida Antifungal Surveillance Program. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 3585-3590 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ostrosky-Zeichner, L., Rex, J. H., Pfaller, M. A., Diekema, D. J., Alexander, B. D., Andes, D., Brown, S. D., Chaturvedi, V., Ghannoum, M. A., Knapp, C. C., Sheehan, D. J., Walsh, T. J. (2008). Rationale for Reading Fluconazole MICs at 24 Hours Rather than 48 Hours When Testing Candida spp. by the CLSI M27-A2 Standard Method. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 4175-4177 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sheppard, D. C., Locas, M.-C., Restieri, C., Laverdiere, M. (2008). Utility of the Germ Tube Test for Direct Identification of Candida albicans from Positive Blood Culture Bottles. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 3508-3509 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lin, M. Y., Weinstein, R. A., Hota, B. (2008). Delay of Active Antimicrobial Therapy and Mortality among Patients with Bacteremia: Impact of Severe Neutropenia. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 3188-3194 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chen, Y.-L., Kauffman, S., Reynolds, T. B. (2008). Candida albicans Uses Multiple Mechanisms To Acquire the Essential Metabolite Inositol during Infection. Infect. Immun. 76: 2793-2801 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Clancy, C. J., Nguyen, M.-L., Cheng, S., Huang, H., Fan, G., Jaber, R. A., Wingard, J. R., Cline, C., Nguyen, M. H. (2008). Immunoglobulin G Responses to a Panel of Candida albicans Antigens as Accurate and Early Markers for the Presence of Systemic Candidiasis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 1647-1654 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Goodwin, M. L., Drew, R. H. (2008). Antifungal serum concentration monitoring: an update. J Antimicrob Chemother 61: 17-25 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pfaller, M. A., Diekema, D. J., Procop, G. W., Rinaldi, M. G. (2007). Multicenter Comparison of the VITEK 2 Antifungal Susceptibility Test with the CLSI Broth Microdilution Reference Method for Testing Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, and Voriconazole against Candida spp.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 3522-3528 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Peralta, G., Sanchez, M. B., Garrido, J. C., De Benito, I., Cano, M. E., Martinez-Martinez, L., Roiz, M. P. (2007). Impact of antibiotic resistance and of adequate empirical antibiotic treatment in the prognosis of patients with Escherichia coli bacteraemia. J Antimicrob Chemother 60: 855-863 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Parkins, M. D., Sabuda, D. M., Elsayed, S., Laupland, K. B. (2007). Adequacy of empirical antifungal therapy and effect on outcome among patients with invasive Candida species infections. J Antimicrob Chemother 60: 613-618 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Armstrong-James, D. (2007). Invasive Candida species infection: the importance of adequate empirical antifungal therapy. J Antimicrob Chemother 60: 459-460 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kenneally, C., Rosini, J. M., Skrupky, L. P., Doherty, J. A., Hollands, J. M., Martinez, E., McKenzie, W., Murphy, T., Smith, J. R., Micek, S. T., Kollef, M. H. (2007). Analysis of 30-Day Mortality for Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease in the ICU Setting. Chest 132: 418-424 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Arendrup, M. C., Denning, D. W., Pfaller, M. A., Diekema, D. J., Rex, J. H. (2007). Does One Voriconazole Breakpoint Suit All Candida Species?. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 2093-2094 [Full Text]  
  • Collins, C. D., Eschenauer, G. A., Salo, S. L., Newton, D. W. (2007). To Test or Not To Test: a Cost Minimization Analysis of Susceptibility Testing for Patients with Documented Candida glabrata Fungemias. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 1884-1888 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Tumbarello, M., Posteraro, B., Trecarichi, E. M., Fiori, B., Rossi, M., Porta, R., de Gaetano Donati, K., La Sorda, M., Spanu, T., Fadda, G., Cauda, R., Sanguinetti, M. (2007). Biofilm Production by Candida Species and Inadequate Antifungal Therapy as Predictors of Mortality for Patients with Candidemia. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 1843-1850 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kahn, J. N., Garcia-Effron, G., Hsu, M.-J., Park, S., Marr, K. A., Perlin, D. S. (2007). Acquired Echinocandin Resistance in a Candida krusei Isolate Due to Modification of Glucan Synthase. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51: 1876-1878 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Davis, S. L, Vazquez, J. A, McKinnon, P. S (2007). Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Candida albicans Versus Non-albicans Candidemia in Nonneutropenic Patients. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 41: 568-573 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Drew, R. H (2007). Could Risk Assessment for Non-albicans Candida Improve Empiric Treatment for Invasive Candidiasis?. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 41: 690-692 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zhang, L., Yan, K., Zhang, Y., Huang, R., Bian, J., Zheng, C., Sun, H., Chen, Z., Sun, N., An, R., Min, F., Zhao, W., Zhuo, Y., You, J., Song, Y., Yu, Z., Liu, Z., Yang, K., Gao, H., Dai, H., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Fu, C., Pei, G., Liu, J., Zhang, S., Goodfellow, M., Jiang, Y., Kuai, J., Zhou, G., Chen, X. (2007). High-throughput synergy screening identifies microbial metabolites as combination agents for the treatment of fungal infections. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 4606-4611 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pfaller, M. A., Diekema, D. J., Procop, G. W., Rinaldi, M. G. (2007). Multicenter Comparison of the VITEK 2 Yeast Susceptibility Test with the CLSI Broth Microdilution Reference Method for Testing Fluconazole against Candida spp.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 796-802 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pfaller, M. A., Diekema, D. J. (2007). Epidemiology of Invasive Candidiasis: a Persistent Public Health Problem. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 20: 133-163 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pai, M. P., Turpin, R. S., Garey, K. W. (2007). Association of Fluconazole Area under the Concentration-Time Curve/MIC and Dose/MIC Ratios with Mortality in Nonneutropenic Patients with Candidemia. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51: 35-39 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hope, W. W., Drusano, G. L., Moore, C. B., Sharp, A., Louie, A., Walsh, T. J., Denning, D. W., Warn, P. A. (2007). Effect of Neutropenia and Treatment Delay on the Response to Antifungal Agents in Experimental Disseminated Candidiasis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51: 285-295 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Saville, S. P., Lazzell, A. L., Bryant, A. P., Fretzen, A., Monreal, A., Solberg, E. O., Monteagudo, C., Lopez-Ribot, J. L., Milne, G. T. (2006). Inhibition of filamentation can be used to treat disseminated candidiasis.. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50: 3312-3316 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Scarsi, K. K., Feinglass, J. M., Scheetz, M. H., Postelnick, M. J., Bolon, M. K., Noskin, G. A. (2006). Impact of inactive empiric antimicrobial therapy on inpatient mortality and length of stay.. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50: 3355-3360 [Abstract] [Full Text]