Candida spp. infection frequency and risk factors in malignant critical care patients

Aims: Candida spp. can cause fatal infections in the person in case of immunosuppression such as malignancy. The aim of our study is to examine the frequency, prognosis and risk factors of candida-related infections in our patients with malignancies followed in our intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: ICU patients with malignancy with fungal infection accepted as the case group and the patients without candida were considered as the control. Demographic characteristics, risk factors and candida risk scores were recorded and compared in both groups. Results: Candida spp. reproduction was observed at a very high rate with 24%. However, there was no difference in mortality between the two groups with and without candida infection. In our study; candida risk score, presence and duration of central venous catheter, antibiotic and steroid use in the last 1 month were found to be the factors determining the risk of candida infection. Conclusion: The contribution of the presence of fungal infection to mortality in our cancer patients does not seem different from others. However, in this patient group, it is difficult to distinguish colonization from invasive fungal infections. At this stage, the use of treatment decisions using risk factors and risk scoring comes to the fore.