Incidence Rates of Candida Bloodstream Infections in Patients With Malignancies in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Background: Recent literature indicates a decline in rates of candidemia in the general population. Objectives: To analyse temporal trends in candidemia among patients with solid tumours and haematological malignancies admitted to a dedicated cancer centre. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all episodes of candidemia from July 2008 to June 2020 (12-year period). The incidence of candidemia was estimated as the number of new cases per 1000 patient days of hospital admission quarterly. A linear regression model was used to analyse changes in incidence rates. Results: Over a 12-year period a total of 212 episodes of candidemia were identified with 90 (42.5%) occurring in patients with haematological malignancies and 122 (57.5%) in patients with solid tumours. The overall incidence of candidemia was 0.49 episodes per 1000 patient-days of admission per quarter. There was a significant decline in the incidence of candidemia overtime for the overall cohort (from 0.81 to 0.21 patient days per quarter, p < 0.001). This decline was statistically significant in patients with solid tumours (from 0.91 to 0.18 patient days per quarter, p < 0.001) with only a downward trend noted in patients with haematological malignancies (from 0.65 to 0.25 patient days per quarter, p = 0.052). Conclusions: We observed a global decline in episodes of candidemia in patients with malignancies mainly driven by a decrease in patients with solid tumours. Patients with haematological malignancies continue to experience considerable rates of candidemia.