Candida

ntra-abdominal candidiasis is a serious infection common in critically ill patients, often leading to high mortality if not treated quickly. Standard antifungal treatments may be less effective due to growing resistance and poor drug penetration into the abdominal cavity. In critically ill patients, drug levels can vary widely due to factors like surgery, inflammation, fluid resuscitation, or extracorporeal support, increasing the risk of underdosing. Rezafungin is a new antifungal agent with a long half-life and broad activity against Candida species, offering potential advantages in this setting. However, there is currently no data on its concentration or effectiveness in the peritoneal fluid of patients with intra-abdominal sepsis. Its long half-life, coupled with repeated pharmacokinetic variations in critical care settings and the risk of insufficient concentrations, may hinder its use in this population.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation of a new technique for invasive candidiasis diagnosis by PCR. The main objective will be to evaluate the effect of this strategy on the time required to obtain results in patients from intensive care units with suspected systemic invasive candidiasis. This PCR method could allow an antifungal switch to be made earlier, limiting the appearance of resistance and reducing the cost of antifungals for healthcare facilities.