Clinical Characteristics of Liver Failure with Fungal Infections in Elderly Patients: Analysis of 84 Cases / 中华医院感染学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To study clinical characteristics of liver failure with fungal infections in the elderly patients and risk factors associated with treatment failure.METHODS Eighty four elderly patients with liver failure followed by fungal infections since 1986 were divided into two groups effective group and ineffective group.RESULTS The common pathogens were Candida albicans(58.33%),Aspergillus fumigatus(9.52%) and Candida tropicalis(8.33%).The lungs(43.88%),mouth(32.65%),intestinal tract(9.18%) and blood(5.10%) were the main sites of fungal infection.Among them after treatment,35 cases(41.67%) were effective compared with 49 cases(58.33%) ineffective.The risk factors for treatment failure included age,complication with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS) and aspergillosis.In multivariate analysis,we found MODS in patients was an independent factor in predicting the prognosis.CONCLUSIONS To improve the treatment outcome,important measures include preventing infection,enhancing the treatment of liver failure,monitoring and supporting multiple organs heart,brain,lungs and kidneys,and promptly rational administration of antifungal agents in elderly patient with liver failure.