Prospective study of Candida endophthalmitis in hospitalized patients with candidemia

To determine the frequency of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis in patients with candidemia, we prospectively evaluated 32 inpatients with fungemia by weekly indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations. Chorioretinitis compatible with Candida infection was found in 9 (28%) patients. Patient age, sex, underlying diseases, or hospital-acquired factors, such as presence of central venous or Foley catheters, bacteremia, use of multiple antibiotics, hyperalimentation, or surgery, did not distinguish between groups. Groups were also similar in number of sites colonized with yeast and species of Candida recovered. Patients with endophthalmitis tended to have more blood cultures positive for Candida (mean, 4.3) than the patients without endophthalmitis (mean, 2.8), but this trend did not reach statistical significance. Based on these results, we recommend periodic ophthalmoscopic examinations in all patients with documented candidemia.