Candidemia with ocular manifestrations: a review of 26 cases in a university hospital in Japan

Abstract Background Ocular candidiasis is a major complication of candidemia; however, many remains unknown for the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of eye involvement. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and obtained information related to fungal infection and its management, and visual outcome at Fukuoka University Hospital from 2000 to 2016. Results Of 143 patients with candidemia for whom an ophthalmology consult was requested, 26 had findings consistent with the diagnosis of ocular candidiasis. Patients with ocular candidiasis were mostly infected with Candida albicans (n = 20), followed by C. glabrata (n = 4), and C. tropicalis (n = 2). In contrast, only one patient infected with C. parapsilosis had ocular involvement although the number of the patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia was second the most among candidemia. No difference was seen for the β-d-glucan in patients with or without ocular candidiasis (128.6 vs. 106.1, P = 0.654). All of the isolates other than C. glabrata were susceptible to fluconazole. In all of 23 patients with existing central venous cathers, CVCs were removed after the diagnosis of candidemia. Four-week mortality rate in patients with ocular candidiasis was 16.7% (three of 18 patients) which was not significantly different from that in patients without ocular manifestations. All treated patients were confirmed for clearance of candidemia, received systemic antifungals, and improved for visual outcome or remained stable, and no patients complicated visual loss without surgical treatment. Therapy with micafungin or caspofungin followed by fluconazole (12 patients) was successful in all patients. Conclusion Ocular involvement occurred in 18% of patients with candidemia, and treatment with echinocandins followed by fluconazole was successful in most cases with follow-up. Disclosures T. Takata, Taisho Toyama Pharma: Speaker’s Bureau, Speaker honorarium