Preemptive antimycotic treatment in critically ill patients in the Czech Republic

The incidence of Candida afflictions in critically ill patients is still growing in the Czech Republic. We looked for a method that not only decreases Candida afflictions but also decreases treatment expenses. This method is preemptive therapy. Critically ill patients were determined by a risk score system. This system was based on summarizing all the risk factors in one patient. Patients who reach the risk score were randomized into groups A and B. Patients in group A were administered itraconazole; patients in group B were not administered any antimycotics. Results of the study show that preemptive treatment decreases Candida infection and Candidemia. A decrease of treatment expenses was reached by identifying the specific group of patients at risk using the risk score system and administering antimycotics.