Treatment of critically ill patients with candidemia.

Early initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is crucial for the prognosis of any infection, especially in the critically ill patient. This is particularly true in the case of candidemia. However, the earlier an empirical antimicrobial regimen is started, the greater the probability of diagnostic error and the possibility of side-effects. Recent experience of the clinical efficacy and good tolerance of echinocandins in the treatment of candidemia obliges us to review the indications for empirical antifungal treatment and the choice of antifungal agent in the critically ill patient.