Epidemiology, risk factors for and outcome of candidaemia among non-neutropenic patients in a Greek intensive care unit

To determine the epidemiology, risk factors for and outcome of candidaemia in critically ill patients, a matched case-control study was performed in a 25-bed intensive care unit (ICU) from August 2004 to January 2006. Candidaemia occurred in 33 patients; each patient was matched to four controls according to admission illness severity, diagnostic category and length of ICU stay. Candida non-albicans species predominated (67.7%). The presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was the only independent risk factor for candidaemia development (OR, 2.93; 95% CI 1.09-7.81, P=0.032). Mortality was 60.6% among patients with candidaemia and 22% among controls (P