Preemptive antimycotic treatment in critically ill patients in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The incidence of Candida afflictions in critically ill patients is still growing in the Czech Republic. We looked for a method that not only decreases Candida afflictions but also decreases treatment expenses. This method is preemptive therapy. Critically ill patients were determined by a risk score system. This system was based on summarizing all the risk factors in one patient. Patients who reach the risk score were randomized into groups A and B. Patients in group A were administered itraconazole; patients in group B were not administered any antimycotics. Results of the study show that preemptive treatment decreases Candida infection and Candidemia. A decrease of treatment expenses was reached by identifying the specific group of patients at risk using the risk score system and administering antimycotics.