Candidaemia in internal medicine departments: the burden of a rising problem

Although internal medicine wards (IMWs) represent a significant reservoir of patients with candidemia, few investigators have specifically addressed the epidemiological aspects of candidaemia in this population. Of all patients hospitalized during the study period with candidaemia, 133/348 (38%) were admitted to IMWs. Variables associated with IMWs included: antibiotic therapy prior to hospitalization, urinary or central venous catheter, parenteral nutrition, tumour and age >75years. Overall, 30-day mortality in IMWs was significantly higher than that in other wards (51.1% vs. 38.2%, p<0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the administration of antifungal treatment 48h after having the first positive BC as an independent determinant of hospital mortality. Patients with candidaemia in IMWs account for a substantial proportion of patients with candidaemia and have higher mortality compared with patients in other wards.