Intraabdominal candidiasis in surgical ICU patients treated with anidulafungin: A multicenter retrospective study

Patients with recent intraabdominal events are at uniquely risk for intraabdominal candidiasis (IAC). Candida peritonitis is a frequent and life-threatening complication in surgically ill patients. International guidelines do not specifically address IAC. This study describes clinical features of IAC in critical patients treated with anidulafungin in Surgical ICUs (SICUs).

A practice-based retrospective study was performed including all adults with IAC admitted to 19 SICUs for ≥24h treated with anidulafungin. IAC was documented (Candida isolation from blood/peritoneal fluid/abscess fluid and/or histopathological confirmation) or presumptive (host factors plus clinical criteria without mycological support). Total population and the subgroup of septic shock patients were analyzed.

One hundred and thirty nine patients were included, 94 (67.6%) with septic shock, 112 (86.2%) after urgent surgery. Of them, 77.7% presented peritonitis and 21.6% only intraabdominal abscesses. Among 56.8% cases with documented IAC, C. albicans (52.8%) followed by C. glabrata (27.8%) were the most frequent species. Anidulafungin was primarily used as empirical therapy (59.7%), microbiologically directed (20.9%) and anticipated therapy (15.8%). Favourable response was 79.1% (76.6% among patients with septic shock). Intra-SICU mortality was 25.9% (28.7% among patients with septic shock).

Among IACs managed at SICUs, peritonitis was the main presentation, with high percentage of patients presenting septic shock. C. albicans followed by C. glabrata were the main responsible species. Anidulafungin treatment was mostly empirical followed by microbiologically directed therapy, with a favourable safety profile, even among patients with septic shock.