Management of septic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava caused by Candida

Successful treatment of recurrent candidemia due to candidal thrombophlebitis associated with a central venous catheter using a combination of fosfluconazole and micafungin

We herein report the case of an 85-year-old woman presenting with right internal jugular vein candidal thrombophlebitis associated with central venous catheters (CTCVC). The infecting agent was Candida albicans, which caused recurrent candidemia five times in total. Micafungin (MCFG) alone was ineffective; however, the combination of MCFG with fosfluconazole (F-FLCZ) successfully treated the patient without a need for any anticoagulant or surgical therapies. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first report of CTCVC being successfully treated with a combination of F-FLCZ and MCFG. These new antifungal agents have better efficacy, tolerability and bioavailability; therefore, they can be useful alternatives to classical combination therapies such as amphotericin-B and 5-fluorocytosine.

Candidal thrombophlebitis of central veins: case report and review

Although candidemia and central catheter septic thrombosis is quite common, central veins thrombophlebitis caused by Candida spp. is a rarely reported complication in critically ill patients. Here we report a case of thrombophlebitis of the right internal jugular and subclavian veins due to Candida albicans which occurred in a patient admitted in the intensive care unit for major trauma. The individual was eventually cured after prolonged course of antifungal therapy. We also review 24 additional cases of Candida induced central veins thrombophlebitis reported since 1978. A central vein catheter was in place in all 25 patients with 21 (84%) being admitted in an intensive care unit, 22 (88%) were receiving total parenteral nutrition and 23 (92%) undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy. Overall mortality was 16%, including two patients who received no therapy and died. In the group of patients receiving only medical therapy, the mortality rate was 13%, while no deaths were observed among those treated with combined medical and surgical therapy. Literature data suggest that Candida caused central veins thrombophlebitis is a rare and probably underdiagnosed infectious complication of the critically ill patient. Despite the dramatic presentation with persistent candidemia, mortality is low even with a conservative medical approach with prolonged fungicidal therapy through the use of amphotericin B or echinocandins. Thus, the decision for a combined surgical debridement should be assessed for each patient.

SepticCandida kruseithrombophlebitis of inferior vena cava with persistent fungemia successfully treated by new antifungal agents

Treatment of Candida krusei fungemia can be problematic. We describe a 44-year-old critically ill, non-immunocompromised patient who had persistent Candida krusei fungemia complicated with septic thrombophlebitis of the inferior vena cava. Successful treatment was achieved by parenteral caspofungin followed by prolonged oral voriconazole. Persistent fungemia in the face of ongoing antifungal therapy and prompt removal of central line should alert physicians to the diagnosis of septic thrombophlebitis. Though combined therapy with amphotericin B and surgical intervention probably remains the treatment of choice, prolonged new antifungal agents, which have better efficacy, tolerability and bioavailability, may be a useful alternative where the central veins are relatively inaccessible or the patient is at high operative risk.

Neonatal Candida albicans septic thrombosis of the portal vein followed by cavernous transformation of the vessel

We report two premature neonates with Candida albicans septic thrombosis of the portal vein who developed, in very early childhood, the sonographic appearance of cavernous transformation of the vessel and/or clinical signs of extrahepatic portal hypertension.

Practice guidelines for the treatment of candidiasis. Infectious Diseases Society of America

Infections due to Candida species are the most common of the fungal infections. Candida species produce a broad range of infections, ranging from nonlife-threatening mucocutaneous illnesses to invasive process that may involve virtually any organ. Such a broad range of infections requires an equally broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This document summarizes current knowledge about treatment of multiple forms of candidiasis and is the guideline of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) for the treatment of candidiasis. Throughout this document, treatment recommendations are scored according to the standard scoring scheme used in other IDSA guidelines to illustrate the strength of the underlying data. The document covers 4 major topical areas. The role of the microbiology laboratory. To a greater extent than for other fungi, treatment of candidiasis can now be guided by in vitro susceptibility testing. The guidelines review the available information supporting current testing procedures and interpretive breakpoints and place these data into clinical context. Susceptibility testing is most helpful in dealing with infection due to non-albicans species of Candida. In this setting, especially if the patient has been treated previously with an azole antifungal agent, the possibility of microbiological resistance must be considered. Treatment of invasive candidiasis. In addition to acute hematogenous candidiasis, the guidelines review strategies for treatment of 15 other forms of invasive candidiasis. Extensive data from randomized trials are really available only for therapy of acute hematogenous candidiasis in the nonneutropenic adult. Choice of therapy for other forms of candidiasis is based on case series and anecdotal reports. In general, both amphotericin B and the azoles have a role to play in treatment. Choice of therapy is guided by weighing the greater activity of amphotericin B for some non-albicans species (e.g., Candida krusei) against the lesser toxicity and ease of administration of the azole antifungal agents. Flucytosine has activity against many isolates of Candida but is not often used. Treatment of mucocutaneous candidiasis. Therapy for mucosal infections is dominated by the azole antifungal agents. These drugs may be used topically or systemically and have been proven safe and efficacious. A significant problem with mucosal disease is the propensity for a small proportion of patients to suffer repeated relapses. In some situations, the explanation for such a relapse is obvious (e.g., relapsing oropharyngeal candidiasis in an individual with advanced and uncontrolled HIV infection), but in other patients the cause is cryptic (e.g., relapsing vaginitis in a healthy woman). Rational strategies for these situations are discussed in the guidelines and must consider the possibility of induction of resistance over time. Prevention of invasive candidiasis. Prophylactic strategies are useful if the risk of a target disease is sharply elevated in a readily identified group of patients. Selected patient groups undergoing therapy that produces prolonged neutropenia (e.g., some bone-marrow transplant recipients) or who receive a solid-organ transplant (e.g., some liver transplant recipients) have a sufficient risk of invasive candidiasis to warrant prophylaxis.

Candida thrombosis of the innominate vein with septic pulmonary emboli

Thrombosis of central veins has become more prevalent because of increased use of long-term central venous catheterization. Candida superinfection of the thrombus can occur particularly in patients on long-term antibiotic therapy and on parenteral nutrition. Removal of the catheter, thrombolytic therapy, anticoagulation, and antifungal therapy with amphotericin B will usually eradicate the candidemia and restore venous patency. Occasionally this therapeutic regimen fails. This case report illustrates such a failure in which multiple pulmonary emboli could have caused death. Surgical thrombectomy of the innominate vein effectively removed the source of the Candida sepsis and maintained patency of a major vein. Thrombectomy should be considered as a therapeutic option in septic central vein thrombosis.

Serious complications of vascular catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in cancer patients

Over the period 1986 to 1989, 53 cancer patients were identified with catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Septic thrombosis was diagnosed in 12 (23%) patients and was suspected in another 3 (6%). Of the 12 patients, five developed deep-seated infections (septic emboli, endocarditis, meningitis, abscess), compared with 2 of the 38 other patients with no septic thrombosis (p < 0.01). Fever persisted for more than three days after antibiotic initiation in 52% of the patients with complications (septic thrombosis and/or deep-seated infections), compared with 19% of those without complications (p < 0.02). Of the three patients with complications who were treated for 14 days with intravenous antistaphylococcal antibiotics, two relapsed; in contrast, all of the nine patients with complications who were treated for more than 14 days (mean 4 weeks) were cured, and none relapsed (p < 0.05). Of the nine patients with complications who were treated with a long course of therapy, only one required surgery. The possibility of septic thrombosis and/or deep-seated infections should be considered in all cancer patients with catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and if present, the condition should be treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics for at least four weeks.

Placement and complications of monitoring catheters

Vascular access is a necessary evil in critically ill patients, a population that is at high risk for complications. Appropriate planning and attention to detail minimize the associated risks while maximizing the benefits derived from catheter use.

Vascular-access infections in hospitalized patients

Vascular catheters are a common source of nosocomial infections, although many of these infections are potentially preventable. A long duration of catheterization, multiple catheter manipulations, the inexperience of some inserters, use of transparent plastic dressings, violations of aseptic technique, the use of multilumen catheters, and inadequate sterilization of reusable pressure transducers all increase the risk of these infections. The only interventions that have been proved to reduce the risk are standardized insertion and maintenance technique by an intravenous-therapy team, preinsertion skin preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate, and the use of topical antibiotics at the insertion site. The goal of the physician should be to prevent catheter infection, because the treatment of established infection can be difficult and costly. Treatment must be individualized for each patient on the basis of the clinical presentation and the causative organism.

Candida septic thrombosis of the great central veins associated with central catheters. Clinical features and management

Candida septic thrombosis of the great central veins is rarely diagnosed during life, and reports of survival with this condition are exceedingly rare. Eight patients with Candida septic thrombosis of the central veins, with six survivors, are reported. Seven of eight patients had multiple organ system failure following surgery or trauma. All patients had received broad spectrum antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition via a central catheter. Every patient showed features of venous thrombosis with localizing extremity edema and high grade candidemia. Intensive amphotericin B therapy (mean daily dose: 0.7 mg/kg) in all patients, combined with 5-fluorocytosine in five cases, resulted in cure and long-term survival in six patients who received 1600 to 3435 mg (mean: 26 mg/kg) total dose. None of these patients developed renal failure, while four showed improving renal function during treatment. In contrast to Candida endocarditis, septic central vein thrombosis caused by Candida appears to be curable medically in the majority of cases with intensive amphotericin B therapy (total dose: greater than or equal to 22 mg/kg), combined when feasible with 5-fluorocytosine.

Diagnosis and treatment of cannula-related intravenous sepsis in burn patients

Suppurative thrombophlebitis was identified in 193 (4.2%) of 4,636 burn patients treated during the years 1960-1978. A single vein was involved in 162 patients, while 31 had multiple vein involvement. The distribution and incidence of suppuration in individual veins reflected the frequency of cannulation, with an increase in the use of central vein cannulae, during the last 10 years, paralleled by a rise in central vein suppuration. The infecting organisms reflected the patients' surface flora. Local signs of infection were present in less than half (35%) of the patients and recovery of a positive blood culture in a clinically septic patient was the most frequent clinical presentation prompting exploration of previously cannulated veins. Pathogenetic mechanisms are identified and criteria defined for determining the extent of excision necessary. Ninety veins were excised from 75 patients during the 1969-1978 period, of whom 30 (40%) survived (three other patients with antibiotic treated central vein disease also survived). Treatment failure was attributable to inadequate excision in 12 patients, suppuration within another unexcised vein in eight patients, hematogenous dissemination of infection in five patients in whom the local disease had been eradicated, and other disease in 20 patients. Prophylaxis must emphasize limited duration of cannulation. Timely diagnosis and treatment can effect maximum salvage and reduce the likelihood of systemic dissemination.