Candidaemia in a European Paediatric University Hospital: a 10-year observational study

In this retrospective observational study covering 1998 to 2008, 32 patients (mean age: 7.50 years) were identified that had 35 episodes of candidaemia (0.47 cases/1000 hospital discharges). Cancer/allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (43%) and congenital malformations/syndromes (21%) were the predominant underlying conditions. Central venous catheterization (90%), a history of antibacterial therapy (69%) and previous bacteraemia (54%) were frequent comorbidities. Candida albicans (46%) was most common, followed by Candida parapsilosis (17%) and Candida glabrata (14%). Resistance was infrequent and limited to non-albicans Candida spp. The 30-day and 100-day mortality rates were 11.4%.