Fungal sepsis in surgical patients

Arch Surg. 1983 Feb;118(2):217-21. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1983.01390020065011.

Abstract

Records of 65 surgical patients with positive fungal blood cultures were reviewed to address risk, overall mortality, and treatment. Negative urine cultures did not rule out sepsis. Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis was present in 27 (42%) of the patients. In 70% of whom it occurred before or during fungemia. Increased mortality correlated with the use of multiple antibiotics, antibiotic use for prolonged periods, and with associated bacterial sepsis. Stopping antibiotic therapy did not reduce mortality. Amphotericin B reduced mortality in patients with dissemination, indicating that it is the treatment of choice for disseminated fungemia and that antibiotic therapy should not be discontinued when concomitant bacterial sepsis is present.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Fungi / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycoses / complications*
  • Mycoses / drug therapy
  • Mycoses / mortality
  • Nystatin / therapeutic use
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Nystatin
  • Amphotericin B