Role of source control in critically ill candidemic patients: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Candidemia is associated with high mortality especially in critically ill patients. Our aim was to identify predictors of mortality among critically ill patients with candidemia with a focus on early interventions that can improve prognosis. Methods Multicenter retrospective study. Setting This retrospective study was conducted in Intensive Care Units from three European university hospitals from 2015 to 2021. Adult patients with at least one positive blood culture for Candida spp. were included. Patients who did not require source control were excluded. Primary outcome was 14-day mortality. Results A total of 409 episodes of candidemia were included. Most candidemias were catheter related (173; 41%), followed by unknown origin (170; 40%). Septic shock developed in 43% episodes. Overall, 14-day mortality rate was 29%. In Cox proportional hazards regression model, septic shock (P 0.001; HR 2.20, CI 1.38–3.50), SOFA score ≥ 10 points (P 0.008; HR 1.83, CI 1.18–2.86), and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (P 0.003; HR 1.87, CI 1.23–2.85) were associated with 14-day mortality, while combined early appropriate antifungal treatment and source control (P < 0.001; HR 0.15, CI 0.08–0.28), and early source control without appropriate antifungal treatment (P < 0.001; HR 0.23, CI 0.12–0.47) were associated with better survival compared to those without neither early appropriate antifungal treatment nor source control. Conclusion Early source control was associated with better outcome among candidemic critically ill patients.