Economic analysis of inadequate fluconazole therapy in non-neutropenic patients with candidaemia: a multi-institutional study

Abstract

Mortality significantly increases in patients with candidaemia who receive inappropriate fluconazole therapy. The goals of this study were to compare hospital length of stay and costs for non-neutropenic patients with candidaemia treated with fluconazole based on the empirical dose and time until initiation of therapy. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients with candidaemia who were prescribed fluconazole at the onset of candidaemia or later. Hospital-related costs were compared based on time to initiation of fluconazole therapy and empirical fluconazole dose. A total of 192 non-neutropenic patients (55% male; mean age+/-standard deviation, 56+/-17 years) were identified. Isolated Candida species included C. albicans (59%), C. glabrata (15%), C. parapsilosis (11%), C. tropicalis (6%), C. krusei (3%) or other Candida spp. (6%). Time to initiation of fluconazole was Day 0 (35.4%), Day 1 (14.1%), Day 2 (26.6%) or Day >or=3 (23.9%). Thirty-two patients (17%) received a dose of fluconazole >or=6 mg/kg on Day 0. Total costs were lowest for patients started on fluconazole on the culture day with adequate doses ($35,459+/-25,988) compared with all other patients ($52,158+/-53,492) (P=0.0088). After controlling for covariates, each 1-day delay in fluconazole therapy was associated with increased total hospital costs of $6392+/-3000 (P=0.0344), and an adequate fluconazole dose was associated with decreased total hospital costs of $18,744+/-7173 (P=0.0097). A delay or an inadequate dose or fluconazole in patients with candidaemia was associated with increased hospital costs. Improved methods to diagnose patients with candidaemia quickly are needed.