Candida strains from neonates in a special care baby unit.
Carriage and acquisition of Candida spp and Candida albicans biotypes were studied among 163 neonates and 90 staff in a neonatal intensive care and surgical unit during a 17 week period. Twenty one neonates carried yeasts in the mouth, rectum or groin when first sampled, and a further 25 were positive later. C albicans accounted for 94.7% of 431 yeast isolates from neonates but only 67.4% of 43 isolates from staff. The first isolated C albicans biotype persisted in 13 babies monitored longitudinally. Simultaneous colonisation with two Candida spp was found in 2/46 neonates and 5/33 staff. The prevalence of candida was significantly higher among babies of gestational age less than 28 weeks (65%) than those of higher gestational age (26%). Oral and/or crural candida infection was observed in 14 of the babies but none developed deep seated candidosis. Routine antifungal prophylaxis did not affect the frequency of yeasts among the neonates.
Sharp
A M
AM
Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds.
Odds
F C
FC
Evans
E G
EG
D000328:Adult; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004739:England; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000382:microbiology*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000382:microbiology; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*