Candidemia in Patients with Acute Leukemia: Analysis of 7 Years’ Experience at a Single Center in China

The study of candidemia in Chinese leukemia patients has been limited. This retrospective study aims to investigate the characteristics and prognostic factors of candidemia among leukemia patients. From 2009 to 2015, 30 isolates of candidemia were detected in 19 patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy. The overall incidence of candidemia was 2.12 episodes per 1000 admissions. Candida tropicalis was the most common Candida species (n = 17; 89.5%). The vast majority of candidal infections are endogeneous. The overall 30-day crude mortality rate was 31.6%. Neutrophil recovery (P = 0.000) and initiation of empiric antifugal treatment before first positive blood culture (P = 0.041) were associated with a significant improvement in overall survival. Early diagnosis, followed by rapid antifungal treatment remains the cornerstone of successful management. The widespread use of newer antifungal agents as prophylaxis among patients with acute leukemia may result in a decreased candidemia incidence.