Candidemia during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian tertiary care hospital: Comparison of episodes with and without COVID-19.

Candidemia during COVID-19 in a Brazilian hospital was linked to a 19.4% 30-day survival rate, significantly lower than 48.6% in non-COVID cases, indicating worse outcomes.

• Why it matters: Understanding how COVID-19 influences candidemia epidemiology and patient outcomes is crucial for improving management and reducing mortality in critically ill patients.
• What they did: A retrospective study analyzed 106 candidemia episodes over three years, comparing clinical features, treatments, and outcomes between patients with and without COVID-19, focusing on predictors of mortality.
• The result: COVID-19-associated candidemia occurred in sicker patients with higher illness severity markers, and mortality was primarily driven by illness severity rather than COVID-19 itself, highlighting the importance of managing acute illness severity.