[Candida infections in premature infants weighing less than 1,500 g. Mucocutaneous colonization and incidence of systemic infections].
BACKGROUND
An increasing incidence of systemic candidiasis has been reported in low birth weight infants requiring intensive care. We have retrospectively analyzed mucocutaneous Candida-colonization and infection rate in 422 preterm infants with a birthweight < 1,500 g.


METHODS
All infants were treated at the NICU, University of Göttingen, from 1/1985-5/1991. 359 neonates (85%) were on mechanical ventilation, no prophylactic antimycotic regimen was applied. Mucocutaneous swabs and cultures from various anatomic sites were regularly obtained from all infants.


RESULTS
37/422 preterm infants (8.8%) had mucocutaneous colonization with candida, none of our patients developed systemic candidiasis. In 7 mechanically ventilated patients (1.9%) Candida albicans or Candida tropicalis was repeatedly detected in the bronchial secretions; 1 patient who had invasive Candida-pneumonia was effectively treated with 5-Fluocytosin and Fluconazol. 4/352 (1.1%) central silastic catheters were colonized with Candida albicans; none of these patients required specific treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The low rate of mucocutaneous Candida-colonization and invasive infection found in our patients may be explained--at least in part--by epidemiological and obstetrical factor as well as by the procedures of the neonatal management.
Harms
K
K
Universitäts-Kinderklinik Göttingen.
Herting
E
E
Schiffmann
J H
JH
Speer
C P
CP
D002178:Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D015725:Fluconazole; D005437:Flucytosine
Candidainfektionen bei Frühgeborenen < 1,500 g. Mukokutane Kolonisation und Inzidenz systemischer Infektionen.