An analysis of treatment for invasive pulmonary infections with Candida species

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment for the patients infected with Candida species.Methods A total of 47 patients with persistent fever,pathology of pulmonary infection,no response to the antibiotic therapy,Candida species found in sputum after long time hospitalization were retrospectively analyzed.Results The 47 patients were 24 males and 23 females.The mean age was 57.0±16.1.The mean temperature was(38.4±0.6)℃ and all lasted for over 6 days.Pulmonary infections with Candida species was diagnosed at the(17.7±5.2)th day after admission.The species isolated were 38 strains Candida albicans,5 strains Candida glabrata,2 strains Candida kruseic,1 strain Candida tropicalis,and 1 strain Candida lusitaniae.Fluconazole was given to 28 patients(2 with voriconazole as sequential therapy),itraconazole to 9(2 with voriconazole too),voriconazole in 7(including the 4 patients mentioned above),Casfungin aceate to 7,Amphotericin B to 1(Casfungin aceate was given alone later for serious adverse reactions).Results two patients infected with C.albicans and Candida glabrata separately had no improvement in the 28 patients treated with fluconazole,but voriconazole showed good effect on the 2 patients.Two patients infected with C.albicans and Candida glabrata separately had no improvement to itraconazole in the 9 patients treated with Itraconazole,but voriconazole showed good effect on them too.The 7 patients treated with voriconazole all had good effect,including 3 infected with Candida glabrata,1 with Candida lusitaniae,3 with C.albicans.Conclusion Candida albicans is the main pathogen in this group of invasive pulmonary infections with Candida species.All the patients have fever and long-time hospitalization.The currently used antifungal drugs,such as voriconazole,Casfungin aceate,are reliable.Caspofungin is generally better tolerated than other antifungal drugs.