Do Patients With Candidemia Need an Ophthalmologic Examination?

The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends a screening dilated retinal examination by an ophthalmologist for all patients with candidemia. Conversely, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends against routine screening in patients with candidemia without symptoms.

In a collaborative effort between infectious diseases and ophthalmology, we examined the incidence of ocular complications in 308 patients with candidemia and subsequently measured the rate of fundoscopic examinations, risk factors for ocular complications, management changes, and outcomes.

Among those who received fundoscopic exams, findings suspicious for ocular candidiasis were found in 12 patients (8%, 12/148). After independent review by ophthalmology and infectious diseases, 3 patients were found to have alternate pathologies that explained their ocular findings. Nine patients (6%, 9/148) were adjudicated as having presumed Candida chorioretinitis. Of these 9 patients, 4 (44%) were asymptomatic, and 2 (22%) were unable to declare symptoms. No patients were definitively determined to have Candida endophthalmitis. Ocular candidiasis was not found to have a statistically significant association with symptoms or comorbidities. Ocular candidiasis was more likely to be found at ophthalmology exams >7 days from first positive Candida blood culture. The number needed to screen to detect presumed Candida chorioretinitis among asymptomatic patients was 20.

Based on the available evidence and high risk of morbidity of eye involvement, continued ophthalmological screens seem prudent, but a definitive consensus was found to be challenging given a lack of outcome data. Additional investigations are warranted. Ophthalmology screenings have a higher sensitivity at >7 days from positive blood culture.