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Statins proved beneficial in patients with candidemia
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SAN FRANCISCO — Findings presented at the 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy suggest that the use of statins in patients with candidemia may benefit patient outcomes. The researchers, therefore, recommend further evaluation in prospective studies.
A team of researchers led by Guillermo Cuervo, MD, of the Bellvitge University Hospital in Barcelona, set out to assess patients hospitalized with candidemia between 2005 and 2011 across six teaching hospitals from three countries (three in Spain, two in Argentina and one in Brazil).
Guillermo Cuervo
“Statins may have unexpected beneficial effects as immune response modulators,” Cuervo told Infectious Disease News. “In patients suffering an episode of candidemia, a very serious infection, this extra benefit could be very useful.”
Of the 403 candidemia cases, 14.6% occurred in those receiving statins. The most common species was Candida albicans, followed by C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei.
Compared with characteristics of patients not assigned statins, those assigned statins were more likely to be older (P=.004), have diabetes (P=.001), renal diseases (P=.021), heart diseases (P,.001), solid organ transplant (P=.026) and prior surgery (P=.002).
“The most common sites of candidemia were: unknown source (48% and 49%), catheter-related (23% and 19%), urinary tract (10% and 17%) and esophagitis (8% and 3%) without significant differences between groups,” Cuervo said.
The overall 30-day case-fatality rate was 41% in patients taking statins vs. 48% for those not on statin therapy. Only 5% of those taking statins experienced early 5-day mortality vs. 17% of patients not taking statins (P=.011).
The researchers said this beneficial effect was not found with other cardiovascular drugs, such as aspirin, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
“Patients who are on chronic treatment with statins and suffer an episode of candidemia should not suspend such treatment, if possible,” he said. “It is necessary to conduct a prospective study to clarify the role of statins in patients with candidemia.”
For more information:
Cuervo G. #M-329. Presented at: 52nd ICAAC; Sept. 9-12, 2012; San Francisco.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.