Consequences of candidemia for pediatric patients

The hospital records of 45 infants and children with one or more blood cultures positive for Candida species were studied retrospectively in an attempt to define the risk of Candida-related complications. Death of eight of the patients (18%) was related to Candida infection, and five additional patients (11%) had metastatic foci of infection but survived. No characteristics were identified that would predict patients who were at high risk for complications of candidemia. Eleven patients were treated with amphotericin B for longer than a week and were examined for evidence of nephrotoxicity. None had persistent abnormalities of blood urea nitrogen or serum creatinine concentrations develop during treatment; two patients had hypokalemia.