Changes in the spectrum and risk factors for invasive candidiasis in liver transplant recipients: prospective, multicenter, case-controlled study.

Background: This study determines whether the spectrum, risk factors, and outcome of invasive candidiasis in liver transplant recipients have changed.

Methods: Thirty-five consecutive liver transplant recipients with invasive candidiasis were prospectively studied in a case-controlled, multicenter study. One control was matched with the case for duration of hospitalization and the other for antibiotic use so that risk factors unique in liver transplantation could be elicited.

Results: In matched-pair analysis, antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (odds ratio [OR] 8.3, P=0.002), posttransplant dialysis (OR 7.6, P=0.0009), and retransplantation (OR 16.4, P=0.0018) were independently significant predictors of invasive candidiasis. Candida spp. included C. albicans in 65% of patients, C. glabrata in 21%, C. tropicalis in 9%, C. parapsilosis in 3%, and C. guilliermondii in 3%. Patients with C. albicans infections were less likely to have received antifungal prophylaxis than those with non-albicans Candida infections (13.6% vs. 50%, P=0.04). The mortality rate was 36.1% for the cases and 2.8% for the controls (OR 25.0, 95% confidence interval, 6.2-100.5, P=0.0002). Non-albicans Candida infections (P=0.04) and prior antifungal prophylaxis (P=0.05) correlated with poorer outcome in the cases.

Conclusions: Our study has identified predictors for Candida infections in the current era that have implications relevant for targeting the prophylaxis toward the high-risk patients. Routine use of antifungal prophylaxis warrants concern given the emergence of non-albicans Candida spp. as significant pathogens after liver transplantation and higher mortality in patients with these infections.