Cost analysis of Candida infection among surgical intensive care unit patients

The purpose of this study was to identify all hospital costs associated with surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients who were at risk from or had documented systemic candida infection. All patients admitted or transferred to the SICU in February 1993 were eligible. Of the 117 patients evaluated, many had recognised risk factors for systemic candida infection, but based on eventual outcome, only 20 (17% of those admitted) were evaluated as high risk, i.e. those in the SICU greater than or equal to 4 days on broad spectrum antibacterials with continued fever, hypothermia, or use of corticosteroids. When comparing the high risk group with a lower risk group, the increase in cost of hospital carl was approximately $US41 000 per patient. Future clinical studies should evaluate if empirical antifungal agents can impact on the morbidity, mortality and economic burden incurred by candida infection in high risk SICU patients.