Fungal neuroinfections and fungaemia: unexpected increase of mortality from invasive fungal infections in 2005-2011 in comparison to 1989-1998: analysis of 210 cases.

Objective: In this short communication we compared the data of fungaemia cases in Slovak hospitals from 1989-1998 published in 1999-2000 with data from 2005-2011.

Methods: Risk factors, etiology and outcome of fungaemia between two periods (1989-1998 vs. 2005-2011) were compared and risk factors for death assessed by univariate analysis (CDC 2006 Statistical Package).

Results: In comparison to 1989-1998 when only amphotericin B and fluconazole has been used (55%), in 2005-2011 only 35.2% patients received FLU, but 26.4% received voriconazole, 22% caspofungin and anidulafungin and about 6.6% lipid formulations of Amphotericin B. In etiology, while in 1989-1998 only 37.1% (115/310) represented non-albicans Candida (NAC) and non-Candida yeasts in 2005-2011 already reached 63.7%. The significant increase of breakthrough fungaemia may be a sign of inappropriate empiric therapy.