Effect of fluconazole prophylaxis on fungal colonisation in ICU patients

In this study, the effect of fluconazole prophylaxis on the incidence of fungal (yeast) colonization in multidisciplinary ICU patients were investigated. A total of 252 patients were mycologically screened in the first week of their hospitalization and followingly once every week. The specimens studied were blood (from venous route and from central venous catheter) urine catheter, endotracheal tubes, oral cavity, nares, skin and rectal swabs. The fungus isolated was candida. 91 received fluconazole 100 mg/day IV or enterally for prophylaxis and 161 served as the control group. Total number of samples in study was 2852 and 1723 of these samples were from the control group, 27.5% being positive. 1129 samples were taken from the prophylaxis group while 18.8% were positive. In conclusion, prophylactic treatment with 100 mg/day fluconazole significantly decreases the incidence of fungal colonization in ICU patients (p