Candida tropicalis fungemia in children with leukemia and lymphoma.

Five episodes of fungemias are described; all had occurred in children with leukemia or lymphoma between January 1, 1978 and December 31, 1990. These fungemias comprised 3.4% of the total septicemias encountered during that period. Three episodes occurred during the induction phase and two during relapse. All patients had fever of varying degree and duration. In addition to steroids, all were receiving combination antibiotics before the fungemia had occurred. All patients had severe neutropenia lasting more than one week. Bacteremia preceded fungemia in four patients. Two episodes were diagnosed antemortem. The same species were isolated from other sites in three cases. Fever, chills and gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common clinical features; other symptoms included cough, dyspnea, oliguria and azotemia. One patient experienced skin lesion, dysphagia, hoarseness and hemiparesis. Only one patient survived. The prognosis from fungemia in leukemia and lymphoma patients is very poor. Empiric antifungal therapy is indicated in neutropenic patients who have recurrent or persistent fever despite one week of broad spectrum antibiotics. Early diagnosis and treatment will aid in improving the overall poor outcome of this disease.