Positive sputum culture of Candida spp. as a risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia: A propensity-score matched retrospective clinical study

Candida species (Candida spp.) are commonly isolated microorganisms from lower respiratory tract (LRT) specimens of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP); however, the clinical significance remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Candida spp. in the LRT and the clinical features and prognosis of HAP. This retrospective analysis included eligible patients with HAP from the database of a prospective study carried out between 2018 and 2019 in nine Chinese hospitals. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline characteristics. A total of 187 HAP patients were enrolled. After PSM of severity score, 27 cases with positive sputum culture of Candida spp. were compared with the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The Candida-positive group had more bacterial isolates in blood culture than the Candida-negative group (39.1% [9/23] vs. 7.7% [2/26], χ2 = 6.928, effect size [ES] = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.12–0.61, P = 0.008). The proportion of patients with chronic lung diseases was significantly higher in the Candida-positive group (55.6% [15/27] vs. 22.2% [6/27], χ2 = 6.312, ES = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.07–0.59, P = 0.012). The 30-day prognosis of HAP was significantly different between the two groups (80.8% [21/26] vs. 38.5% [10/26], χ2 = 9.665, ES = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19–0.66, P = 0.002). Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that LRT Candida spp. colonization was a risk factor for 30-day mortality of HAP (OR = 6.720, 95% CI: 1.915–23.577, P = 0.003). Candida spp. in the LRT was associated with 30-day mortality of HAP. Patients with chronic underlying lung diseases tend to have Candida spp. colonization.