Significance of Candida recovered from intraoperative specimens in patients with intra-abdominal perforations

Objective: Determine the significance of recovering yeasts from intraoperative specimens from the abdominal cavity and to evaluate the effect of single intraoperative dose of fluconazole on clinical outcome in patients with intra-abdominal perforations. Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Setting: Multicenter study from 13 hospitals in Norway. Patients: 109 patients with intra-abdominal perforations. Interventions: Patients were randomiezed to receive either a single 400mg fluconazole dose or placebo during the operation. Key words: Candida, candidiasis, colonization, critical care, fluconazole, infection, peritonitis, prophylaxis, surgery.