Fungemia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy versus surgery: risk factors, etiology and outcome

26 patients with fungemia and cancer treated with chemotherapy (group A) were compared to 25 patients with fungemia and cancer treated with surgery (group B), to assess differences in etiology, risk factors and outcome. Candida albicans was responsible for 42% of fungemias in group A, and for 92% of fungemias in group B (p < 0.005). Breakthrough fungemia occurring during antifungal prophylaxis appeared in 46.6% of group A vs 12% of group B (p < 0.02). There was significant difference in outcome between the groups: 20% of patients after surgery vs 7.7% of those after chemotherapy died from fungemia (p < 0.04). Most common risk factors recorded in both groups were catheter insertion and previous therapy with broad spectrum antibiotics.