Candidemia: Practical guide to Candida bloodstream infections

Candidemia is a bloodstream infection caused by Candida species. It’s not the same as a superficial yeast infection—this one reaches the blood and can make you seriously ill. People in hospitals, those with central IV lines, recent antibiotics, or weakened immune systems face the highest risk.

Watch for fever that doesn’t go away, chills, low blood pressure, confusion, or signs of organ dysfunction. Symptoms can be vague, and nurses and doctors often suspect candidemia when a patient isn’t improving despite antibiotics.

Diagnosis and when to act

Blood cultures are the main test. They take time and sometimes miss Candida, so clinicians may add tests like beta-D-glucan or Candida PCR to support a diagnosis. If you or a loved one has risk factors and persistent fever, tell the team—early testing helps. Also expect repeated blood cultures after starting treatment to confirm clearance.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment starts with antifungals. Current practice usually favors echinocandins (like caspofungin, micafungin) as initial therapy because they work well against most species and are safe. If the lab shows a fluconazole-susceptible strain, doctors may switch to oral fluconazole to finish the course. Duration often runs at least 2 weeks after the last positive blood culture and after symptoms improve, but your doctor will tailor length based on where the infection spread.

Source control matters as much as drugs. If a central line or catheter is a likely source, removing it can make the difference between cure and relapse. Imaging and eye exams are sometimes needed to check for spread to organs or the eyes.

Preventive steps cut risk: careful IV line care, avoiding unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics, good hand hygiene, and antifungal stewardship in hospitals. In high-risk patients, doctors may use short-term antifungal prophylaxis—this is a case-by-case decision.

When to seek help? If you’re hospitalized and get a new fever, or someone with an IV line develops unexplained deterioration, speak up. Outside the hospital, candidemia is rare but possible in people with severe immune problems—ask your clinician if you have persistent fevers and risk factors.

I’m not your doctor; this is practical info to help you ask better questions. If candidemia is on the table, quick testing, source control, and the right antifungal plan save lives. Check our site for related articles on antifungals and infection prevention.

Not all Candida are the same. Candida albicans is common, but non-albicans species like Candida glabrata or Candida parapsilosis behave differently and sometimes resist fluconazole. A newer concern is Candida auris, which can be hard to treat and spreads in hospitals. Labs identify the species and test which drugs will work—this guides step-down therapy.

An infectious disease specialist improves outcomes; ask for a consult if candidemia is suspected. Families should keep clear records of fever days, antibiotics given, and device changes—these details help teams find the source. Prevention also includes surveillance in hospitals, fast lab reporting, and staff training so small problems don't become outbreaks. Ask questions and stay involved always.