Gallbladder and biliary tract candidiasis: nine cases and review

Abstract

We review biliary tract and gallbladder candidiasis and define patient demographics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and treatment strategies for this infection. This is a 3-year retrospective review of our experience with this disease and a review of the English-language literature. Thirty-one cases of biliary tract and gallbladder candidiasis, including nine in our series, have been examined. The same risk factors that predispose patients to other forms of candidal infection are implicated here. No mortality was found with uncomplicated candidal cholecystitis in nonneutropenic patients treated with cholecystectomy alone. Patients with associated extrabiliary tract candidiasis or candidemia had worse outcomes and required both surgical intervention and antifungal therapy. When risk factors exist for the development of biliary tract or gallbladder candidiasis, the physician should be alert to this possibility. There is no need for antifungal therapy in cases of isolated candidiasis of the gallbladder in nonneutropenic patients.