Low incidence of candidaemia among neutropenic patients treated for haematological diseases.

Candida colonization and haematogenous infection were studied retrospectively in 277 patients with haematological diseases by reviewing the microbiological reports of fungal surveillance and blood cultures over a 4-year period. Most patients (83%) were colonized by Candida and in the majority (68%) the same Candida species was isolated from at least 2 body sites. However, candidaemia was diagnosed in only 3 patients. During the same period invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed in 7 patients. Possible causes for the low incidence of candidaemia were fluconazole prophylaxis, empirical amphotericin B and strict indication for antibacterial therapy.