Respiratory Tract Colonization by Candida Species Portends Worse Outcomes in Immunocompromised Patients

BACKGROUND: species from the lower respiratory tract in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HSCT) undergoing bronchoscopy with broncheoalveolar lavage (BAL) for pneumonitis post-HSCT. METHODS: species between 2000-2012. We concurrently performed a retrospective analysis of 515 HSCT recipients with pneumonitis at our institution between 2001-2012. RESULTS: had significantly increased mortality (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: species colonization, the presence of the yeast may be useful as a surrogate marker of disease severity.