A panel (coordinator group) including 7 specialists from six scientific societies was formed – Spanish Society of Mycology (AEM), as the promoter; Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC); Spanish Society of Anesthesiology and Reanimation (SEDAR); Spanish Society of Intensive, Critical Care and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC); Spanish Society of Chemotherapy (SEQ); Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacies (SEFH) – all with extensive experience in the treatment of critically-ill patients. They were responsible for developing a questionnaire after conducting a thorough review of the existing literature, as was done in the two previous editions of this project.43,44

An “expert panel” was made up of 30 specialists from different geographic locations in our country from six scientific societies involved in this research. The criteria followed for their inclusion in the panel were their experience in the investigation of IFI, as well as their expertise in the management of postsurgical patients and surgical extended LOS patients in ICUs. They were requested to answer a questionnaire drafted by the seven coordinators responsible for this research, as was done in the two previous editions of this project.43,44

In a second round, and after the elaboration of the resulting recommendations by the coordinators’ group, a second analysis was requested in a face-to-face meeting, in which 73 specialists from all around the country who care for postsurgical and surgical ICU extended LOS patients, validated the pre-selected recommendations and the derived algorithm through a voting procedure.

The Delphi methodology was used for the development of this study to optimize the consultation process of the 30 panel members. More specifically, thanks to the Delphi methodology, we were able to learn the groups’ opinions; not only that of a given individual, but the opinion of each of the experts in different areas of information suggested by the coordinators. The level of consensus required to make a recommendation was equal or higher than 70% (21 out of 30) in Top 4 (score of 7 or more points) by all of the experts consulted in each question. A total of 10 questions, all posed by the coordinators (Annex 1) were evaluated by the experts using a metric scale.

A total of 11 questions, prepared by the coordinators (Annex 1) were distributed in two sections: postsurgical patient section, 7 questions (developed by E.M and G.A); and surgical ICU extended LOS patients, 4 questions (developed by A.R and J.P).

The study methodology was based on the development of only one phase aimed to discover the level of consensus of the different questions. To meet this goal, on May 19th and 26th, 2014, 30 specialists (Annex 2) participating in the research anonymously answered the online questionnaire that included 11 questions. The coordinators responsible for the systematic research of the literature for the development of the questions, did not answer the questionnaire.

Thereafter, as mentioned above, recommendations and an algorithm were produced and validated by 73 experts in a face-to-face meeting held on September 25th, 2014 (Annex 3).

Rationale. In the Tissot et al. study, the NPV of the (1→3)-β-D-glucan test in patients with gastrointestinal recurring perforation was higher than the NPV of the CS and also higher than the NPV of the colonization index in surgical critically-ill patients with a high-risk for the diagnosis of intra-abdominal candidiasis.36 In the study by Fortún et al., which included patients with deep tissue IC, the NPV of a multiplex real-time PCR was set in 98.7%, which was superior to (1→3)-β-D-glucan (94%).14 Tests showing a high NPV are useful for the physician to decide whether or not to discontinue antifungal therapy.29

The great majority of the panel (81.5%) agreed on validating the usefulness of the PCR negative predictive value for the discontinuation of empirical/early treatment in this population. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10 points in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 22 out of 27 specialists granted 7 or more points to the convenience of the microbiological diagnostic technique in this situation, therefore a consensual agreement was reached (Top 4≥70%).

In contrast, the NPV of (1→3)-β-D-glucan, as well as the direct examination of abdominal fluid and the blood culture, were respectively thought to be useful by 18 (66.7%), 17 (63%) and 14 (51.9%) out of a total of 27 specialists, thus no consensus was achieved for any of the referred techniques (Top 4<70%).

4. Agreement on the systematic initiation of empirical/early antifungal treatment in patients with anastomotic leakage (independent of the CS).

Rationale. Surgery, and especially abdominal surgery, is considered a risk factor in the CS, a scale for the detection of patients with risk of IC according to different risk factors.19 In this context, even though the management of patients with anastomotic leakage is not included in the CS, a number of scientific evidences prove that postsurgical peritonitis is associated to IC, particularly in patients with recurring gastrointestinal perforation.8,15,27

Most of the experienced consultants (75%) agreed on the need to initiate empirical/early antifungal treatment in every patient with anastomotic leakage, regardless of the presence of IC. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10 points, in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 21 out of the 28 participants granted 7 or more points to the need for the systematic administration of a treatment in this situation. Thus, a high consensus was reached (Top 4≥70%).

5. Agreement on the usefulness of the CS to decide on an empirical/early antifungal treatment in patients with anastomotic leaks, and/or tertiary peritonitis.

Rationale. The CS is not a specific scale for IC in patients with post-operative peritonitis. In fact, in most patients with suture dehiscence, the rate of Candida colonization is unknown. Nevertheless, surgery, and very specially, abdominal surgery, is considered a risk factor for IC in the CS.19 Thus, the CS may be useful to help the physician decide whether or not to start empirical/early antifungal treatment in patients with anastomotic leakage and/or tertiary peritonitis.8,15,26

The vast majority of the board members (82%) agreed to consider the use of the CS to determine empirical/early antifungal therapy useful in this population. Specifically, and using a 0–10 point scale where 10 represents the highest degree of agreement, 23 out of the 28 participants awarded 7 or more points to the usefulness of the CS in this situation, establishing a consensus of agreement (Top 4≥70).

6. Agreement on the usefulness of specific scores, such as Dupont's, to decide on the empirical/early antifungal treatment in patients with intra-abdominal sepsis.

Rationale. Nowadays, clinicians still do not possess the tools which enable them to determine if the presence of Candida in a multi-bacterial culture of the intra-abdominal fluid must be considered significant. In this context, the use of specific scales, such as the one developed by Dupont et al., could be helpful for the clinician to decide whether or not to initiate an antifungal treatment while waiting for fungal results.12 Nevertheless, these scales need to be validated by large multi-centric studies.13,26

Only 14 out of the 28 board members (50%) considered that specific scores for intra-abdominal candidiasis are useful to decide on administering an empirical/early antifungal therapy, thus consensus was not reached (Top 4<70%).

7. Agreement on the prescription of the following antifungal drugs as first-line empirical/early treatment in unstable patients with intra-abdominal infection and/or with serum lactate >3mmol/l, previous azoles intake and/or continuous renal replacement therapy.

Answers provided by the coordinators: fluconazole, amphotericin lipid B complex, liposomal amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin.

Rationale. The clinical practical guide for IC diagnosis and treatment in non-neutropenic adult patients, which was published by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in 2012, recommends echinocandin therapy as the first-line antifungal treatment, with an AI level of evidence.10 However, the ESCMID guide does not include a specific recommendation for intra-abdominal candidiasis. The consensus document by Bassetti et al. recommends the administration of echinocandins or liposomal amphotericin B as a first-line treatment for intra-abdominal candidiasis, with an AI level of evidence.5

The great majority of experts agreed to administer an echinocandin (micafungin, anidulafungin, caspofungin) as a first-line treatment in this population. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10 in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 26 out of the 28 specialists (92.9%) granted 7 or more points to the administration of micafungin in this situation, an assessment granted by (89.3%) in the case of anidulafungin and caspofungin.

In contrast, although all specialists stated not to administer fluconazole as a first-line antifungal treatment in this situation, a consensus was not reached (Top 4<70%) on the convenience to use liposomal amphotericin B (17 answers with 7 or more points; Top 4: 60.7%) or amphotericin lipid B complex (8; 28.6%) in this patient population.

1. Agreement on the variables considered as risk factors for IC in abdominal surgical patients.

Answers provided by the coordinators: parenteral nutrition, patients with extended burns, high severity (APACHE II≥25 points), upper abdominal surgery (above the angle of Treitz), broad-spectrum antibiotic intake for more than 72h, extended hospitalization (>10 days in ICU or hospital), presence of solid neoplasm, and lower abdominal surgery.

Rationale. IC in critically-ill patients is relatively frequent (17%). Due to the lack of specific signs/symptoms of infection, the complexity of the patients and the insidious presentation of the clinical manifestations, it is difficult to diagnose.15 Several studies published in scientific literature identified a wide variety of IC risk factors in non-immunocompromised patients,28,41 even though their role has not yet been clearly determined.11

The variables that reached consensus (Top 4≥70%) were: Parenteral nutrition (26 answers in Top 4, 92.9% of all answers); high level of severity (APACHE II>25 points) (24; 85.7%); extended hospitalization >10 days (ICU or hospital) (24; 85.7%); receiving broad spectrum antibiotics for more than 72h (24; 85.7%); upper abdominal surgery (above the angle of Treitz) (24; 85.7%); and the presence of solid neoplasm (22; 78.6%).

The great majority of specialists (96.4%) agreed on considering parenteral nutrition an IC risk factor in patients with abdominal surgery. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10 points in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 24 out of 28 participants granted 7 or more points, thus a consensual agreement was reached (Top 4≥70%). Consensus was also reached when determining other IC risk factors in this population: patients with extended burns (26 answers with 7 or more points; Top 4: 92.9%), high severity, (25; 89.3%), extended hospitalization (24; 85.7%), treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic for more than 72h (24; 85.7%), upper abdominal surgery (24; 85.7%), and the presence of solid neoplasm (22; 78.6%). Contrarily, a consensus (Top 4<70%) was not reached on defining lower abdominal surgery (22; 78.6%) as a risk factor in this population.

2. Agreement on the need to consider the presence of multi-colonization as a mandatory variable of the CS to prescribe an early antifungal treatment.

Rationale. Validated scales for the detection of patients with risk of suffering IC include a wider variety of risk factors.16 Although there are several authors who think that multi-colonization by Candida is not a significant variable for the detection of IC, a number of studies have proven that it is a very relevant clinical condition in this group of patients.19,20,43

Most of the panel members (75%) agreed on considering the presence of multi-colonization necessary to prescribe an antifungal treatment in this situation. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10, in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 21 out of 28 participants granted 7 or more points to this regard, so a consensual agreement was established (Top 4≥70%).

3. Agreement on initiating fungal treatment based on the following results of the CS in stable (no shock) post-operative abdominal surgery patients, IC risk factors and sepsis with no evident focus.

Answers provided by the coordinators: CS=3, CS=4, and CS=5.

Rationale. Several studies have proven the usefulness of the CS, as a system of risk classification validated for suspicion of IC or candidemia. It assists in making a decision on the prescription of an early treatment in patients hospitalized in the ICU with specific risk factors.1,19 The study by Leon et al. revealed an IC incidence of 13.8% with CS>3, whereas with CS<3 the incidence rate was only 2.3%.20 This incidence progressively increases to 16.8% (RR=7.3), with CS=4 and up to 23.6% (RR=10.3), with CS=5.21

The great majority of the consulted experts agreed on the need to initiate fungal treatment in this population when the CS punctuation is higher than 3. Specifically, on a scale of 0–10 points in which 10 stands for the highest level of agreement, 25 out of 28 specialists (89.3%) granted 7 or more points to the need to administer the treatment when the CS score equals 5, an assessment sustained by 24 experts (85.7%) in the case of CS=4. In contrast, only 8 panel members (28.6%) agreed to administer the treatment to patients with CS=3, thus no consensus was reached (Top 4<70%).

4. Agreement on the performance of the following actions in stable (no shock) post-operative abdominal surgery patients, IC risk factors and sepsis with no evident focus, CS=3 and high clinical suspicion.

Answers provided by the coordinators: determining non-culture-based microbiological techniques to diagnose IC, and initiating antifungal treatment in the event of a positive non-culture-based microbiological method.

Rationale. The mortality rate due to IC continues substantially high.15 Although the empirical and early administration of an antifungal treatment is associated with better survival, a great number of patients still receive unnecessary treatment, leading to potential toxicity and cost increase.18 The detection of antibodies or antigens-related to the components of the fungal wall- or of nucleic acids might improve early diagnosis and guide the treatment.3,17,25,30,32

Most experts agreed not only on the need to initiate antifungal treatment in the event of a positive result in any non-culture-based microbiological technique (26 out of 28 answers received 7 or more points; Top 4 92.2%), but also to carry out non-culture-based microbiological techniques to diagnose IC (24; 85.7%). Thus, a high consensual agreement on both statements was established (Top 4≥70%).

Once the results achieved with the Delphi methodology applied to the management of complicated intra-abdominal infection and surgical patients with ICU extended stay were obtained, the recommendations exhibited were extracted as conclusions. They are based on the questions which reached a consensus equal or higher than 70%. These recommendations and the derived algorithm (Figs. 1 and 2) were validated thereafter during a face-to-face meeting with the hospital experts.

Fig. 1.

Algorithm for surgical patient.

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Fig. 2.

Algorithm for extended length-of-stay surgical patients.

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This consensus has been sponsored by MSD Laboratories, Spain.