Polymerase Chain Reaction Versus Blood Culture to Detect Candida Species in High-Risk Patients with Suspected Invasive Candidiasis: The MICAFEM Study.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the diagnostic reliability of serum polymerase chain reaction (PCR) versus blood culture, abdominal fluid or both (composite measure) in patients receiving empirical antifungal treatment for suspected invasive candidiasis. METHODS: This observational, prospective, non-interventional, multicentre study in Spain enrolled 176 critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Separate blood samples for culture and serum PCR were taken before the start of antifungal therapy. Patient assessment was performed according to each site's usual clinical practice. The primary end point was concordance between serum PCR and blood culture. Secondary end points were concordance between serum PCR and a positive abdominal fluid sample or the composite measure. Quality indices included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) and kappa indices. RESULTS: Among 175 evaluable patients, rates of Candida detection were similar for serum PCR (n = 16/175, 9.1%) versus blood culture (n = 14/175, 8.0%). Quality indices for serum PCR relative to blood culture were: sensitivity 21.4%; specificity 91.9%; PPV 18.8%; NPV 93.1%; kappa index 0.125. Thirty-two abdominal fluid samples were positive. Quality indices for serum PCR versus abdominal fluid were: sensitivity 31.3%; specificity 83.0%; PPV 15.6%; NPV 92.3%; kappa index 0.100. Quality indices for serum PCR versus the composite measure were: sensitivity 15.8%; specificity 92.7%; PPV 37.5%; NPV 79.9%; kappa index 0.107. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of serum PCR for Candida detection was low and the rate of concordance was low between serum PCR and the other diagnostic techniques used to identify Candida infections. Hospital-based diagnostic tests need optimising to improve outcomes in patients with suspected invasive candidiasis. FUNDING: Astellas Pharma Inc.

Per-species risk factors and predictors of invasive Candida infections in patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units: development of ERICAP scoring systems.

BACKGROUND: Prediction rules for invasive Candida infection (ICI) are available for adult but not for infants and children managed in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). METHODS: Observational study in 24 PICU with prospective phase (all children admitted during 1 year) and retrospective review of ICI records. Four logistic regression models were performed using ICI by Candida spp., Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis or Candida tropicalis as dependent variables. Scores were constructed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty five ICI (47 C. albicans, 37 C. parapsilosis, 19 C. tropicalis and 22 others) and 1022 controls were included. Incidence (cases/100 PICU admissions): 4.22 (all Candida), 2.44 (C. albicans), 1.41 (C. parapsilosis), 0.19 (C. tropicalis). ICI was associated [Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) = 0.764, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.719-0.809, P < 0.001] with pre-PICU hospitalization ≥ 15 days [odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; score: +3], fever (OR = 2.6; +2), thrombopenia (OR = 2.0; +1) and parenteral nutrition (OR=2.4; +2). Additionally, the following associations were noted: C. albicans ICI (AUC = 0.716, 95% CI = 0.640-0.792, P < 0.001) with chronic metabolic disease (OR = 10.7; score:+4), surgical digestive process (OR = 2.8; +1), fever (OR = 2.8; +1) and parenteral nutrition (OR = 2.3; +1); C. parapsilosis ICI (AUC = 0.808, 95% CI = 0.739-0.877, P < 0.001) with previous colonization (OR = 7.1; score:+3), tracheostomy (OR = 5.1; +2), parenteral nutrition (OR = 4.3; +2), thrombopenia (OR = 3.6; +1) and previous bacterial infection (OR = 3.0; +1) and ICI by C. tropicalis (AUC = 0.941, 95% CI=0.886-0.995, P < 0.001) with thrombopenia (OR = 53.8; score: +10), neutropenia (OR = 7.2; +1), pre-PICU hospitalization ≥ 15 days (OR = 17.2; +3) and hematologic (OR = 22.4; +4) and cardiovascular infectious processes (OR = 5.5; +1). Specificity was >90% for cut offs of 5 (all Candida), 3 (C. albicans), 3 (C. parapsilosis) and 11 (C. tropicalis). CONCLUSIONS: Once validated, these scores may help for identification of ICI by specific species allowing adequate empiric/prophylactic treatment.

C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis invasive infections in the PICU: clinical features, prognosis and mortality / Infección invasiva por C. albicans, C. parapsilosis y C. tropicalis en la UCI pediátrica: características clínicas, pronóstico y mortalidad

Candida albicans remains the most common agent associated with invasive Candida infection (ICI), but with increasing number of non-albicans species. An epidemiological, observational study exploring host criteria, clinical characteristics and mortality of ICI was performed in 24 pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Spain. Patients were analyzed in global and distributed by infecting species (for groups with ≥15 patients). A total of 125 ICI were included: 47 by C. albicans, 37 by C. parapsilosis, 19 by C. tropicalis, 4 C. glabrata, and 18 others. Up to 66% of ICI by C. albicans and 75.7% by C. parapsilosis occurred in children ≤24 months, while the percentage of children >60 months was higher in ICI by C. tropicalis. Bloodstream infection was most common among C. tropicalis (78.9%) or C. parapsilosis (83.8%) ICI, but urinary infections were almost as common as bloodstream infections among C. albicans ICI (31.9% and 38.3%, respectively). Fever refractory to antimicrobials was the most frequent host criterion (46.4% patients), but with equal frequency than prolonged neutropenia in C. tropicalis ICI. Thrombopenia was more frequent (p<0.05) in C. parapsilosis (60.7%) or C. tropicalis (66.7%) ICI than in C. albicans ICI (26.5%). Uremia was more frequent (p<0.05) in C. albicans (78.3%) or C. tropicalis (73.3%) than in C. parapsilosis ICI (40.7%). Multiple organ failure and heart insufficiency was higher in C. tropicalis ICI. Short duration (≤7 days) of PICU stay was more frequent in C. albicans ICI. Mortality rates were: 8.5% (C. albicans ICI), 13.5% (C. parapsilosis ICI) and 23.3% (C. tropicalis ICI) (Au)

Candida albicans es el agente más frecuentemente asociado con candidiasis invasiva, pero con un número creciente de casos causados por especies no-albicans. Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico observacional explorando criterios del huésped, características clínicas y mortalidad en 24 unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricas en España. Se analizó a los pacientes en conjunto y distribuidos por la especie infectante (para aquellos grupos con ≥15 pacientes). Se incluyó un total de 125 candidiasis invasivas: 47 por C. albicans, 37 por C. parapsilosis, 19 por C. tropicalis, 4 por C. glabrata, y 18 casos por otras especies. Hasta un 66% de las candidiasis invasivas por C. albicans y un 75,7% de las causadas por C. parapsilosis ocurrieron en niños ≤24 meses, mientras que el porcentaje de niños con >60 meses fue mayor en el grupo de candidiasis invasiva por C. tropicalis. La candidemia fue la infección más frecuente en el grupo de infecciones por C. tropicalis (78,9%) o C. parapsilosis (83,8%), pero las infecciones del tracto urinario fueron tan frecuentes como la bacteremia entre las infecciones por C. albicans (31,9% y 38,3%, respectivamente). La fiebre refractaria a antimicrobianos fue el criterio de huésped más frecuente (46,4% pacientes), pero con igual frecuencia que la neutropenia prolongada en la candidiasis invasiva por C. tropicalis. La trombopenia fue más frecuente (p<0,05) en las infecciones por C. parapsilosis (60,7%) o C. tropicalis (66,7%) que en las producidas por C. albicans (26,5%). La uremia fue más frecuente (p<0,05) en las infecciones por C. albicans (78,3%) o C .tropicalis (73,3%) que en las producidas por C. parapsilosis (40,7%). El fallo multiorgánico y la insuficiencia cardiaca fueron más frecuentes en el grupo de infecciones por C. tropicalis. La estancia corta (≤7 días) en la unidad fue más frecuente en el caso de infecciones por C.albicans. Las tasas de mortalidad fueron: 8,5% (C. albicans), 13,5% (C. parapsilosis) y 23,3% (C. tropicalis). El análisis de la candidiasis invasiva por las distintas especies de Candida mostró perfiles clínicos diferentes y distintas tasas de mortalidad, haciendo esencial la identificación a nivel especie (AU)