Consequences of candidemia for pediatric patients
R. B. Turner, L. G. Donowitz and J. O. Hendley
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.
