Candida Bloodstream Infection in Patients with Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of an 11-Year Period.

Background: Candida bloodstream infection (CBSI) is a growing problem among patients with cancer. Aim: To describe the main clinical and microbiological characteristics in patients with cancer who suffer CBSI. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and microbiological characteristics of all patients with CBSI diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2020, at a tertiary-care oncological hospital. Analysis was done according to the Candida species found. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with 30-day mortality. Results: There were 147 CBSIs diagnosed, 78 (53%) in patients with hematologic malignancies. The main Candida species identified were Candida albicans (n = 54), Candida glabrata (n = 40) and Candida tropicalis (n = 29). C. tropicalis had been mainly isolated from patients with hematologic malignancies (79.3%) who had received chemotherapy recently (82.8%), and in patients with severe neutropenia (79.3%). Seventyfive (51%) patients died within the first 30 days, and the multivariate analysis showed the following risk factors: severe neutropenia, a Karnofsky Performance Scale score under 70, septic shock, and not receiving appropriate antifungal treatment. Conclusions: Patients with cancer who develop CBSI had a high mortality related with factors associated with their malignancy. Starting an empirical antifungal therapy the soonest is essential to increase the survival in these patients. (c) 2023 Asociaci dn Espa n similar to ola de Micologi ' a. Published by Elsevier Espa n similar to a, S.L.U. All rights reserved.